Autonomy, technology and digitisation

Science topics & groups

Science group

Nature-based solutions

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are environmental management approaches that protect nature whilst helping to address societal problems, such as climate change and pollution. By making people a key recipient of nature conservation benefits, NbS accelerate action and facilitate buy-in for approaches li...

Science group

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Carbon (dioxide) Capture and Storage (CCS) is used as a mitigation strategy for addressing the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. We are working to deliver new approaches, methodologies and tools for the safe and efficient operation of offshore storage sites.

Science group

Autonomous sampling

PML is working to progress the technological transition towards autonomous measurements and platforms to collect environmental and biological data using our fleet of autonomous ocean robots.

Science group

Artificial intelligence and machine learning

We apply artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to address environmental challenges

Marine data buoy and autonomous gliders being deployed into the ocean

Science group

Autonomy, technology and digitisation

Advances in marine technology can deliver economic benefits and improve the management, sustainability and governance of marine and coastal environments. Our scientists, modellers and technologists operate at the forefront of marine technology development.

Carbon from earth Observation between Ocean and Land (COOL)
The COOL (Carbon from Earth Observation between Ocean and Land) project is a European Space Agency (ESA)-funded initiative focused on improving how we observe and understand the carbon cycle in coastal waters using satellite data.
Satellite-based observations of Carbon in the Ocean: Pools, Fluxes and Exchanges (SCOPE)
In the Satellite-based observations of Carbon in the Ocean: Pools fluxes and Exchange (SCOPE) project, funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), we bring together an international team of experts to study the ocean carbon cycle from space to better understand how much carbon the ocean stores and ho...
Deep Vision: AI-enabled Mapping of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems in the Atlantic
Co-led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the University of Plymouth, this project uses artificial intelligence and high-resolution seabed data to map vulnerable marine ecosystems across the Atlantic Basin. The resulting evidence supports the design of legal protections for deep-sea biodiversity, inc...
Ocean ICU: Improving Carbon Understanding
The Horizon EU OceanICU is a five year project that seeks to gain a new understanding of the biological carbon pump and its processes in order to provide fundamental knowledge and tools to help policy makers, regulators and Ocean industry–fishing and mining, along with the wider blue econo...
Monitoring Integrated Digital Support Tool – for CO2 and hypersaline brine monitoring applied to UK
In MIDST-UK, an open source, user friendly, pre-operational Decision Support Tool (DST) will be extended to also included brine release (high salinity, high temperature and varied contaminants) for impact assessment, monitoring, and detection criteria. Case studies are then to be developed within po...
Smart AUVs for detection and quantification of greenhouse gas seepage in the oceans
SmartAUVs will dramatically improve the monitoring capabilities of AUVs, by applying artificial intelligence (AI) in concert with specialized signal processing techniques to enable AUV decision autonomy, i.e., the ability to take intelligent action in real time based on sensor input, enabling sound ...

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Related News

02 July 2026

Parliamentarians take to our lab – and the seas – to discover how ocean research supports environmental decision-making

Yesterday, a group of cross-party UK parliamentarians joined us in the laboratory and set sail aboard RV Plymouth Quest to gain practical, experience-based insight into the role of ocean science in addressing some of the world’s most p...