In a time of growing environmental challenges, understanding our changing climate - and the condition of our oceans - has never been more essential. SeaLabs, an initiative of the Ambiente Europeo Association, has teamed up with YB Tracking to mobilise the sailing community to become active contributors to ocean research.
Through citizen science, SeaLabs aims to fill important data gaps in remote ocean regions while fostering a culture of marine sustainability. It’s a huge challenge that cannot be tackled by the SeaLabs project alone. However, via effective partnerships, the project works to become a meaningful part of a larger collaborative effort to understand our oceans better.
Central to its mission is SeaLabs' partnership with YB Tracking, whose satellite-enabled tracking technology provides precise GPS coordinates, bringing real-time tracking accuracy to the project.
A Citizen Science Initiative with a Bold Vision
Building on nearly 15 years of experience in land-based environmental initiatives, Ambiente Europeo expanded its focus to the oceans by creating SeaLabs. This evolution underscores the organisation’s commitment to addressing environmental challenges holistically, both on land and at sea.
By equipping sailors with user-friendly kits, SeaLabs empowers them to collect vital data on seawater parameters, including temperature, salinity, and pH levels; crucial to enhancing marine sustainability. However, logging and sharing this data in real-time, in remote ocean areas, remains a challenge.
Addressing Data Gaps with YB Tracking
YB Tracking satellite trackers enhance the data collection process by providing precise geolocations during sailors’ data logging, ensuring this location information is reflected in the SeaLabs’ open database. Moreover, the live vessel tracking feature keeps onshore participants connected and broadens the project’s reach to inspire a global audience.
Daniel Rolleri, Founder and Director of Ambiente Europeo Association says:
“By equipping sailors with the tools to gather real-time ocean data and integrating YB Tracking’s live vessel tracking and precise geolocation, we’re creating a community of explorers actively contributing to our understanding of a changing world. Together, we’re making ocean research more accessible and engaging for all.”
The Impact of YB Tracking
Now entering its third year, YB’s reliable satellite-enabled tracking technology has been instrumental in advancing SeaLabs’ mission. There are no connectivity gaps, black spots when tracking the vessels, or data transmission delays. By equipping sailors with reliable connectivity anywhere in the world, location precision is achieved - enhancing data quality and project credibility. Furthermore, the safety of the onboard crew is strengthened with SOS and two-way messaging features anytime, anywhere. With a long battery life too (up to 12 months), the trackers are reliable in both connectivity and longevity.
During the annual and very popular ARC event where YB Tracking serves as the official tracking partner, SeaLabs obtains further exposure from the increased project visibility and draws important attention to the critical role of citizen science in ocean research.
Looking Ahead
SeaLabs is poised for growth, with plans to:
Expand its mission globally, exploring new crossing opportunities and further YB tracker implementation.
Strengthen partnerships with organisations and sponsors to secure funding for scaling the initiative
Continue leveraging YB Tracking’s technology to enhance data collection and accessibility.
As the project grows, SeaLabs anticipates a measurable impact through expanded datasets, increased collaboration with researchers, and a deeper understanding of ocean conditions. The integration of live tracking with YB has set a strong foundation for making the project more accessible and engaging for participants and observers.
As SeaLabs continues to chart new waters, the partnership with YB Tracking is paving the way for a brighter future for our ocean conditions - one data point at a time.
If your ocean, mountain, or desert project could benefit from satellite connectivity in some of the world's most remote areas, get in touch. YB can help!
Call us: +44 (0) 2380 00 2029
Email us: support@ybtracking.com