| October 2020 Newsletter #7 DAIMON and its extension, DAIMON 2 , are international projects dealing with derelict munitions, which contaminate the Baltic Sea's ground, water and marine life. Scientists from Poland, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Lithuania and Russia are cooperating with experts worldwide in order to solve this trans-boundary challenge. We are part-financed by the EU INTERREG Baltic Sea Region Programme 2014-2020. With the DAIMON 2 project progressing into its third period, the efforts of the project partners are visibly paying off. The main goal has taken form as an operational beta-version of the Decision Support System (DSS) . The collected scientific data are gradually flowing into the system. Also training sessions and the training cruise hosted by IOPAN have taken place and was received with great enthusiasm and more importantly, constructive feedback. If you are interested in this topic, read on: DAIMON 2 expert trainings: stay calm and register Obstructions caused by the omnipresent COVID-19 virus have resulted in prolongation of the DAIMON 2: Practical Application project, which started in August 2019, by 6 months till July 2021. This will allow us to postpone some of the DAIMON events and expert trainings , which were originally planned for Summer 2020. All events will be held according to the updated schedule , which can be found here . Make sure you register soon to these hands-on, free-of-charge courses, because the places are limited! Expert training and demonstration cruise on R/V Oceania, Gdansk, Poland Two demonstration cruises were carried out on the r/v Oceania from the 1 st of October to the 7 th of October 2020. Onboard were two groups with scientists, potential end-users of the DSS, policy makers, documentary makers and journalists from various Baltic Countries, to experience a full-scale exercise of surveying for dumped munitions and using the Decision Support System (DSS). During the visit to the Gdansk Deep and various locations inside the Gdansk Bay, safety measures and measuring techniques were demonstrated in full detail. Amongst others, sediment, biota and water sampling techniques were explained. Participants interactively assisted with the deployment and operation of the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and located different munition objects. It was clearly demonstrated to the participants that, exploring the sea bottom for marine munitions with side scan sonar mapping and visual sightings through ROV are an extremely challenging but also effective means, to collect the needed information. Once back on land, the participants were shown how to access and use the beta version of the DSS, enabling them to assess the findings from the cruise and experience a full-scale exercise that shows the added value of the DAIMON projects. Beta Version of the DSS online via AmuCad.org From the 1 st of November, the AmuCad.org DAIMON Decision Support System is entering the test phase with external users. When creating a test account, users can try out the functionality of the Decision Support System. This way anyone can create a virtual weapon-finding case, perform a risk assessment and create a Decision Support report. Note that we are still dealing with a Beta version of the system where results cannot yet be used to perform real-world risk assessments. For the test users, the findings will be removed after the session has ended. The official release of the DAIMON DSS system will be at the Kiel Munitions Clearance Week held in Kiel, Germany from the 3 rd to the 7 th of May 2021. More about this event at the end of the newsletter. For those interested in performing as a DSS test user , please to contact us via Email . Thank you for your support! Online Training Sessions DAIMON DSS With the near completion of the DAIMON DSS, the beta version was demonstrated in a series of online training sessions with future users and experts in the field of marine research. With individual training sessions (small groups of up to three people) the functionality and options of the DSS were demonstrated and the participants were acquainted with the different roles the DSS offers. Everyone took the role of a “User” to enter a munitions finding and create a risk assessment. Alternatively, most participants also took the role as an “Expert” to perform manual risk assessments with their own field of expertise. This skill is important to train the artificial intelligence and improve the quality of future decision support process. Since we are dealing with a beta version these trainings worked twofold; at first the users learned how the DSS works. Second, their feedback has proven to be of huge value and will be used in the next months to improve the workflow and user experience. DAIMON EcoTox Toolbox Webinar at the Thünen-Institute of Fisheries Ecology The next webinar within the DAIMON 2 project will be held on the 3 rd of November and is organized by the Thünen-Institute of Fisheries Ecology. This webinar will target users (executive and technical staff of maritime administrations, environmental agencies or coastal guards, offshore companies, academia and NGOs) involved in the risk assessment of marine areas affected by dumped munitions. After a brief introduction to the topic of dumped munitions in the seas, participants will be introduced to the “DAIMON Ecotox Toolbox”, a compilation of fact sheets describing various methods useful for the detection, analysis and impact assessment of dumped munitions. The main topics will be fish health and fish sampling including biological and chemical analysis of explosives and their metabolites. In addition, practical experiences and results with the “Ecotox Toolbox” will be presented. After the webinar the participants will be prepared to use the methods from the “DAIMON Ecotox Toolbox” to create own methodological concepts for the investigation of dumped munitions. For those interested to participate, please register HERE . We have extended the registration deadline to the 2 nd of November 2020. DAIMON Ecotox Toolbox (T. Lang /Thünen-Institute) Save the Date: Kiel Munitions Clearance Week The final version of the Decision Support System will be presented in Kiel during the Kiel Munition Clearance Week (KMCW) from 3 rd to 7 th of May 2021. The KMCW will be a forum for exchange, a platform for discovering synergies and most importantly a driver towards actions. During this time several national and international research meetings are sharing their knowledge on the multiply dimensions of the underwater munitions problem. For a preliminary registration for the Kiel Munition Clearance Week just visit the KMCW registration page . VISIT OUR SITE |
October 2020
Newsletter #7
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DAIMON and its extension, DAIMON 2, are international projects dealing with derelict munitions, which contaminate the Baltic Sea's ground, water and marine life. Scientists from Poland, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Lithuania and Russia are cooperating with experts worldwide in order to solve this trans-boundary challenge.
We are part-financed by the EU INTERREG Baltic Sea Region Programme 2014-2020.
With the DAIMON 2 project progressing into its third period, the efforts of the project partners are visibly paying off. The main goal has taken form as an operational beta-version of the Decision Support System (DSS). The collected scientific data are gradually flowing into the system. Also training sessions and the training cruise hosted by IOPAN have taken place and was received with great enthusiasm and more importantly, constructive feedback.
If you are interested in this topic, read on:
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|
|
DAIMON 2 expert trainings: stay calm and register
| |
Obstructions caused by the omnipresent COVID-19 virus have resulted in prolongation of the DAIMON 2: Practical Application project, which started in August 2019, by 6 months till July 2021.
This will allow us to postpone some of the DAIMON events and expert trainings, which were originally planned for Summer 2020. All events will be held according to the updated schedule, which can be found here. Make sure you register soon to these hands-on, free-of-charge courses, because the places are limited!
| |
|
|
Expert training and demonstration cruise on R/V Oceania, Gdansk, Poland | |
Two demonstration cruises were carried out on the r/v Oceania from the 1st of October to the 7th of October 2020. Onboard were two groups with scientists, potential end-users of the DSS, policy makers, documentary makers and journalists from various Baltic Countries, to experience a full-scale exercise of surveying for dumped munitions and using the Decision Support System (DSS).
During the visit to the Gdansk Deep and various locations inside the Gdansk Bay, safety measures and measuring techniques were demonstrated in full detail. Amongst others, sediment, biota and water sampling techniques were explained. Participants interactively assisted with the deployment and operation of the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and located different munition objects. It was clearly demonstrated to the participants that, exploring the sea bottom for marine munitions with side scan sonar mapping and visual sightings through ROV are an extremely challenging but also effective means, to collect the needed information. Once back on land, the participants were shown how to access and use the beta version of the DSS, enabling them to assess the findings from the cruise and experience a full-scale exercise that shows the added value of the DAIMON projects. | |
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|
Beta Version of the DSS online via AmuCad.org | |
From the 1st of November, the AmuCad.org DAIMON Decision Support System is entering the test phase with external users. When creating a test account, users can try out the functionality of the Decision Support System. This way anyone can create a virtual weapon-finding case, perform a risk assessment and create a Decision Support report. Note that we are still dealing with a Beta version of the system where results cannot yet be used to perform real-world risk assessments. For the test users, the findings will be removed after the session has ended. The official release of the DAIMON DSS system will be at the Kiel Munitions Clearance Week held in Kiel, Germany from the 3rd to the 7th of May 2021. More about this event at the end of the newsletter. For those interested in performing as a DSS test user, please to contact us via Email. Thank you for your support! | |
|
|
Online Training Sessions DAIMON DSS | |
With the near completion of the DAIMON DSS, the beta version was demonstrated in a series of online training sessions with future users and experts in the field of marine research. With individual training sessions (small groups of up to three people) the functionality and options of the DSS were demonstrated and the participants were acquainted with the different roles the DSS offers. Everyone took the role of a “User” to enter a munitions finding and create a risk assessment. Alternatively, most participants also took the role as an “Expert” to perform manual risk assessments with their own field of expertise. This skill is important to train the artificial intelligence and improve the quality of future decision support process.
Since we are dealing with a beta version these trainings worked twofold; at first the users learned how the DSS works. Second, their feedback has proven to be of huge value and will be used in the next months to improve the workflow and user experience. | |
|
|
DAIMON EcoTox Toolbox Webinar at the Thünen-Institute of Fisheries Ecology
| |
The next webinar within the DAIMON 2 project will be held on the 3rd of November and is organized by the Thünen-Institute of Fisheries Ecology. This webinar will target users (executive and technical staff of maritime administrations, environmental agencies or coastal guards, offshore companies, academia and NGOs) involved in the risk assessment of marine areas affected by dumped munitions.
After a brief introduction to the topic of dumped munitions in the seas, participants will be introduced to the “DAIMON Ecotox Toolbox”, a compilation of fact sheets describing various methods useful for the detection, analysis and impact assessment of dumped munitions. The main topics will be fish health and fish sampling including biological and chemical analysis of explosives and their metabolites. In addition, practical experiences and results with the “Ecotox Toolbox” will be presented. After the webinar the participants will be prepared to use the methods from the “DAIMON Ecotox Toolbox” to create own methodological concepts for the investigation of dumped munitions. For those interested to participate, please register HERE.
We have extended the registration deadline to the 2nd of November 2020.
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DAIMON Ecotox Toolbox (T. Lang /Thünen-Institute) | | |
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Save the Date: Kiel Munitions Clearance Week | |
The final version of the Decision Support System will be presented in Kiel during the Kiel Munition Clearance Week (KMCW) from 3rd to 7th of May 2021. The KMCW will be a forum for exchange, a platform for discovering synergies and most importantly a driver towards actions. During this time several national and international research meetings are sharing their knowledge on the multiply dimensions of the underwater munitions problem.
For a preliminary registration for the Kiel Munition Clearance Week just visit the KMCW registration page.
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