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CONSERVE AND SUSTAINABLY USE THE OCEANS, SEA AND MARINE RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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022 saw AIT continue with efforts to deal with pollution in the Mekong Delta Basins, including from plastic waste, in collaboration with Google, including the use of digital tools, machine learning models, and geospatial techniques. A similar effort aimed to reduce plastic waste in Indonesian waterways. With support
from Japan and UNEP, AIT also organized training on mercury monitoring. Another joint event held in India addressed the ability of coastal ecosystems to deal with climate change. In collaboration with the Philippines and Lao PDR, another initiative aimed to address the issue of marine plastic debris.
AIT GEOINFORMATICS CENTER DEVELOPS A REAL-TIME FLOATING PLASTIC LITTER IDENTIFICATION TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MEKONG RIVER USING AI-ENABLED SMART CCTV SYSTEMS
Duration: Description: The Mekong River, a vital lifeline for millions of people in Southeast Asia, is facing increasing threats from plastic pollution. The river, known as the “Mother of Water,” is being inundated with plastic waste as it flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. This pollution not only poses risks to human health and habitats but also impacts biodiversity and contributes to climate change. To address this issue, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) collaborated with the Geoinformatics Center (GIC) of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and Google on the CounterMEASURE II Project. The project leveraged citizen science and artificial intelligence (AI) to understand the extent of plastic pollution in the Mekong River. Through the use of digital tools, machine learning models, and geospatial techniques, the AIT-GIC team mapped plastic leakage hotspots and identified the pathways through which plastic waste enters the river. The project also involved the active participation of citizen scientists who contributed annotated images to enhance the accuracy of the AI model. The successful implementation of the project led to the development of a detailed digital map of plastic pollution in the Mekong River. The AIT-GIC researchers utilized smart
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems powered by solar panels to detect and monitor floating plastics in real-time. By combining various data sources and applying advanced deep learning methods, they identified significant plastic leakage hotspots along the riverbanks. The findings from this research are crucial for informing policy decisions and actions to combat plastic pollution and ensure a plastic-free future for rivers like the Mekong. The efforts of the AIT-GIC team in collaboration with UNEP and Google demonstrate the potential of using innovative technologies and citizen engagement to tackle the global issue of plastic pollution in our waterways. 🌐 https://ait.ac.th/2022/07/eyes-on-the-mekong-to-combat-
plastic-pollution
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20 AIT SUSTAINABILITY 22 REPORT RESEARCH PROJECT ON A SYSTEMS ANALYSIS APPROACH TO REDUCE PLASTIC WASTE IN INDONESIAN SOCIETY (PISCES)
Duration: January 2022-June 2024 Description: The project titled “A Systems Analysis Approach to Reduce Plastic Waste in Indonesian Society (PISCES) aims to create “hope spots” in Indonesia’s battle against plastic waste with the help of an international multi-disciplinary team offering multiple work packages. The aim of the work package designed for SMARTS-SERD@AIT is to: (i)estimate economic costs and benefits for municipalities focusing mainly on drainage systems and the impact of plastic debris on their productivity and on damage to engineered infrastructures in cities (e.g. engineered storm water and sewerage drainage systems); (ii)identify the chain of actors addressing plastic impacts through alternative instruments (regulatory, incentive based, non-economic, etc. including links to social and cultural issues; and (iii) determine the economic cost burden through valuation of total welfare loss using a production function approach. The team from the Center working for this project participated and presented at the PISCES Co-design Workshop on Plastic Waste with other global and regional partners in Banyuwangi, Indonesia, November 27- December 2, 2022 Weblink: 🌐 https://www.piscespartnership.orghttps://
www.smartscenter.org/copy-of-research-sponsoredprojects-1 🌐 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/
fclim.2022.1007780/full
THE AIT RRC.AP ORGANIZED A TRAINING PROGRAM ON NATIONAL MERCURY MONITORING, PATHUM THANI, THAILAND
Duration: 6-8 December 2022 Description: The AIT RRC.AP organized a training program titled “Organizing a Training Programme on National Mercury Monitoring” on December 6-8, 2022, at the AIT Conference Centre. The training program is the second in a series of training programs slated under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)-implemented and Japanfunded project titled “Project for Promoting the Minamata Convention on Mercury” by making the most of Japan’s knowledge and experience. The training program was conducted to familiarize participants with the training packages and templates developed during the earlier
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phase of the project as well as help participants with the necessary resources for developing and facilitating local training programs on accurate mercury monitoring and analyses in their country. The program addressed the various monitoring needs and priorities of each laboratory by providing methodologies and skills for mercury monitoring in various environmental and biological media. Supplemental technical information and a hands-on demonstration of mercury analyses deepening participants’ understanding of mercury monitoring and quality data collection and analysis for better science-based policy-making and implementation.
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A total of 21 country delegates from 10 countries in Asia and the Pacific participated in the training program. Six resource persons, including mercury monitoring experts from Japan (IDEA Consultants Inc.), South Africa (South Africa Weather Service), Myanmar (Environmental Compliance Consultancy Co., Ltd.) and Thailand (IDEA Consultants Inc.) were invited to participate in the training. Weblink: 🌐 http://www.rrcap.ait.ac.th/news/Pages/vol23no4-03.aspx
SESSION ON “SUSTAINING THE COASTAL ECOSYSTEM IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE” AT THE EVENT ORGANIZED BY THE US CONSULATE, KOLKATA AND ASIAN CONFLUENCE
Duration: November 21-22, 2022 Description: During the event organized by the US consulate and Asian Confluence and held in Kolkata on November 2122, 2022, Center director Prof. Joyashree Roy took on the role of session chair for the discussion on “Sustaining the Coastal Ecosystem in the Face of Climate Change.” Thes session focused on the critical challenges posed by climate change to coastal ecosystems and explored strategies to ensure their long-term sustainability. Prof. Roy facilitated
insightful conversations among experts, policymakers, and stakeholders, highlighting the importance of addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), and 15 (Life on Land). Through this research, teaching, outreach, and public engagement effort, the session aimed to generate innovative ideas and solutions for coastal ecosystem preservation.
ERIA AND AIT LAUNCHED A PROJECT ON PLASTIC LEAKAGE PREVENTION FROM FACTORIES AND THE INFORMAL RECYCLING SECTOR
Duration: November 21-22, 2022 Description: The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRC. AP) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) organized a consultation meeting to initiate a project funded by the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris. This project, in collaboration with Thailand, the Philippines, and Lao PDR, aims to develop technical guidelines for preventing plastic and resin pellet leakage from factories and the informal recycling sector in ASEAN cities. The objective is to disseminate lessons learned and build capacity in the region to prevent micro- and macroplastics from entering the marine environment. The guidelines will be based on best management practices that are socially acceptable, technologically feasible, and economically viable. The meeting discussed the project’s scope and work plan with collaborators and stakeholders, ensuring smooth project collaboration and successful implementation at the city level. The project’s final recommendations are expected to contribute as technical input to the international legally-
binding agreement to control plastic pollution by 2024. Feedback from participants emphasized the need for clear stakeholder categorization, alignment with existing frameworks and national action plans, and the importance of a robust communication plan for effective guideline utilization by government entities and other end-users. 🌐 https://rkcmpd-eria.org/eria-and-ait-launched-a-project-
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