Environmental Monitoring
Bay of Palma Observatory
The Bay of Palma Observatory was established in response to the significant environmental impacts generated by the intense social and economic activities in the Bay of Palma, one of the busiest hubs in the Balearic Islands. These activities, particularly centered around Son Sant Joan Airport and the Port of Palma, contribute to rising levels of air and marine pollution, noise pollution, and urban overcrowding, all of which negatively affect public health and the quality of life for Palma residents. This project seeks to create a citizen-led environmental monitoring network that tracks a range of environmental variables, both terrestrial and marine, across the bay. The initiative also aims to engage the local population in environmental monitoring through a user-friendly data visualization platform, fostering a greater interest in citizen science.
Leading Entity
Palma XXI
Year
2023
Key Partnerns
Palma XXI, Marilles Foundation, True World
State of the Project
Pending funding
Keywords
City model, marine protection, citizen participation, people-centered urbanism
Sustainable Development Goals
The Challenge
The Bay of Palma, a focal point of social and economic activity in the Balearic Islands, faces significant environmental challenges due to the high volume of activity, particularly from the airport and the port. These challenges include increased air and marine pollution, which have direct negative impacts on public health and the quality of life for Palma’s residents.
To address these issues, there is a critical need for an integrated environmental monitoring and control system that can provide accurate data and support sustainable management of the area.
The Solution
The Bay of Palma Observatory project focuses on developing a comprehensive citizen-led environmental observation and control platform. This platform will monitor a variety of environmental quality indicators across both land and sea, providing a clear and accessible way for the public and authorities to track the bay’s environmental health.
The project includes the creation of an interactive digital observatory where collected data can be viewed in real-time, thereby enhancing public engagement and encouraging the growth of citizen science projects related to environmental monitoring.
Key Initiatives
- Citizen Air Quality Monitoring Network: Currently, the project includes a network of seven air quality sensors installed along the Bay of Palma’s coastline, coordinated by the "Plataforma contra els Megacreuers," which includes Palma XXI.
- Citizen Science Web Portal: A real-time data portal where the public can access information collected by the sensors, fostering greater public interest in environmental observation.
- Expansion of the Sensor Network: Plans to extend the air quality monitoring network to other vulnerable areas of the city, such as schools, and to install sensors that monitor marine environmental variables in the bay with the support of our technology partner, True World.
- Creation of a Digital Observatory: Development of an innovative digital observatory where environmental data can be easily accessed and analyzed by both citizens and authorities.
Impact
- Cooperative Network Formation: The project encourages the creation of a collaborative network of entities and individuals who share a vision for a healthier Bay of Palma, strengthening synergies across sectors.
- Citizen Empowerment: By providing easy access to environmental quality data, the project empowers Palma’s residents to participate actively in citizen science projects and enhances public understanding of environmental issues.
- Alignment with European Objectives: The observatory contributes to the achievement of European goals for improving air and marine quality, as outlined in the 2030 Agenda and the International Maritime Organization's pollution prevention policies.
- Improved Quality of Life: Through continuous monitoring of environmental quality, the project aims to objectively assess the impact of pollution in the bay, leading to better management policies that prioritize the well-being of residents.
Key Partners
- Palma XXI: Citizen association with a vocation as an observatory of the city's past, present, and future, aimed at reflecting and making proposals oriented toward sustainable and inclusive urban design.
- Marilles Foundation: A non-profit foundation working to make the Balearics a world-leading example of marine conservation.
- TrueWorld: Organization focused on technological solutions to combat the Climate Crisis. Responsible for installing air and marine pollution sensors.
Future Outlook
The Bay of Palma Observatory is an ongoing project with plans to continually expand the air and water quality sensor network, further develop the digital observatory, and enhance collaboration with other entities. The project also aims to increase public awareness and participation in environmental monitoring efforts within the Bay of Palma.
Learn More
Discover more about our efforts to monitor and improve the environmental quality of the Bay of Palma by visiting our project page.
