The Leman-Baikal project, multi-year Swiss-Russian initiative to study and preserve our freshwater resources using ultralight aircraft with cutting-edge hyperspectral imaging technology, has been successfully finished in September 2015. Over the course of last three years scientists and researchers from EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), MSU (Moscow State University) and Baikal Institute of Nature Management have been studying the health of lake environments, particularly lake Léman in Switzerland and lake Baikal in Russia. Lake Léman and Lake Baikal are both glacial lakes that are amongst the world’s most strategic freshwater bodies: vital sources of drinking water and delicately balanced ecosystems. Understanding the dynamic processes that occur in our lakes and the impact of human activity and climate change is central to developing effective strategies to protect these essential resources.Unique hyperspectral camera and data processing algorithms, developed by Gamaya, have been extensively used during the Leman-Baikal project to assess pollution transport and water quality in the delta of river Selenga in Southern Siberia. The Gamaya camera was a critical part of the developed imaging system, that consisted of six multispectral and hyperspectral optical sensors. The data obtained during the project proved the superior quality of the hyperspectral camera and data processing algorithms developed by Gamaya, and provided high-resolution hyperspectral data for further research and analysis. By analyzing an unprecedented amount of data (millions of hyperspectral images) and understanding correlations of airborne data and biological activity, researchers and scientists plan to develop an airborne solution to monitor the health of lake environments.
The importance of environmental monitoring can not be underestimated and according to the market research “Environmental Sensing and Monitoring Technologies”, global markets for environmental sensors and the related sub-segments account for $13 billion.The inspiring documentary about the international research project Leman-Baikal 2013-2015, created by Atlas media movie studio, provided below.
Article date: Morges, 2015
Image reference: Baikal page
