Water, marine and maritime resources
In response to the challenges posed by the current climate crisis, the UPC leads research into the sustainability of water, marine and maritime resources, promoting innovative solutions for a sustainable and resilient future. These include improving water reuse and desalination, reducing marine and acoustic pollution, advancing the blue economy, managing and preventing climate risks, and developing offshore wind energy technologies.
The UPC currently has 30 research groups and subgroups specialising in water, marine and maritime resources, along with 6 specific research centres. These centres develop innovative projects and collaborate with prestigious institutions. The UPC also offers a wide range of educational programmes, including bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, postgraduate courses, doctoral programmes and more.
Highlighted projects
Early warning system for natural hazards
The GOBEYOND project will develop and test early warning systems for natural hazards and extreme weather events, helping emergency services respond more effectively and quickly. It will be tested in six regions across Europe and the Mediterranean using advanced AI tools, real-time data and citizen participation.
Protecting marine wildlife from ship noise
The SATURN project studies the impact of ship noise on marine wildlife—invertebrates, fish and marine mammals—and develops solutions to reduce its effects. The project also establishes standards for measuring this noise and works with key sectors to apply the findings effectively. SATURN brings together experts in bioacoustics, marine biology, naval engineering and maritime policy.
Monitoring marine litter to improve management
The TRACE project will develop a system to monitor and predict floating marine litter in coastal areas by combining numerical modelling and citizen science. The aim is to better understand how plastic moves and accumulates along coastlines, such as Barcelona’s, and to provide useful tools for improving waste management, protecting sensitive areas and promoting the circular economy.
Discover more projects in the water, marine and maritime resources portfolio
Water, marine and maritime resources research organisations at the UPC
Recursos hídrics
- CRAHI -Centre de Recerca Aplicada en Hidrometeorologia
- FLUMEN -Dinàmica Fluvial i Enginyeria Hidrològica
- GHS -Grup d'Hidrologia Subterrània
- Geo2Aqua -Monitoring, modelling and geomatics for hydro-geomorphological processes
- HorPTA -Horticultura: producció, transformació i aprofitament
- R2EM -Resource Recovery and Environmental Management
- SAC -Sistemes Avançats de Control
Recursos marins
- BIOCOM-SC -Biologia Computacional i Sistemes Complexos
- GEMMA -Grup d'Enginyeria i Microbiologia del Medi Ambient
- GReCEF -Grup de Recerca en Ciència i Enginyeria de Fluids
- LAB -Laboratori d'Aplicacions Bioacústiques
- SARTI -Centre de Desenvolupament Tecnològic de Sistemes d'Adquisició Remota i Tractament de la Informació
- SARTI-MAR -Sistemes d'Adquisició Remota de Dades i Tractament de la Informació en el Medi Marí
- Subgrup de recerca SPAq -Sistemes de Producció Aqüícola
Recursos marítims
- ATEM -Anàlisi i Tecnologia d'Estructures i Materials
- BIT -Barcelona Innovative Transportation
- CDIF -Centre de Diagnòstic Industrial i Fluidodinàmica
- CITES -Grup de Recerca en Ciència i Tecnologia de la Sostenibilitat/a>
- DF-GeoTech -Dinàmica de Fluids i Aplicacions Geofísiques i Tecnològiques
- RIIS -Grup de Recerca en Recursos i Indústries Intel·ligents i Sostenibles
- Subgrup de recerca EGEO -Enginyeria Geomàtica
- Subgrup de recerca IFLUIDS -Grup de Recerca Barcelona Fluids & Energy Lab
- Subgrup de recerca TRANSMAR -Grup de Recerca de Transport Marítim i Logística Portuària
Altres grups de recerca en temes d'aigua
- CITCEA -Centre d'Innovació Tecnològica en Convertidors Estàtics i Accionaments
- CREDA -Centre de Recerca en Economia i Desenvolupament Agroalimentari
- GiES -Geofísica i Enginyeria Sísmica
- GRU -Grup de Recerca Urbanisme/a>
- LRG -Lightning Research Group
- LUB -Laboratori d'Urbanisme de Barcelona
- PM -Programming Models
- AGROTECH-UPC -Centre Específic de Recerca de Tecnologia Agroalimentària
- CREMIT - Centre de Recerca de Motors i Instal·lacions Tèrmiques
- CS2AC-UPC - Supervision, Safety and Automatic Control
- IDEAI-UPC - Intelligent Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Research Group
- LIM/UPC - Laboratori d'Enginyeria Marítima
- SSR - Smart Sustainable Resources
Research applications
Water resources
Notable examples of applied activity in the field of marine resources include the study of microplastic distribution and its interaction with biodiversity, as well as the detection of marine life using genomic, bio-optical and participatory technologies. Other areas of focus include the sustainable production of proteins from microalgae cultivated with agri-food by-products, numerical simulations to model marine waste routes and the development of tracking systems for species to support more efficient fisheries management. AI techniques are also used to estimate the size of captured species, and coral regeneration is promoted through the breeding and repopulation of polyps in oceanariums.
Marine resources
Examples of applied research in the field of marine resources include the study of microplastic distribution and their interactions with marine biodiversity, as well as the detection of marine life using genomic, bio-optical and participatory technologies. Other areas of focus include the sustainable production of proteins from microalgae cultivated with agri-food by-products, numerical simulations to model marine waste routes and the development of tracking systems for species to support more efficient fisheries management. AI techniques are also used to estimate the size of captured species, and coral regeneration is promoted through the breeding and repopulation of polyps in oceanariums.
Maritime resources
Research in maritime resources includes the assessment of ship collision risks along maritime routes and the management of onboard energy and emissions to reduce pollution and improve the efficiency of maritime transport. It also involves the development and management of advanced materials for offshore wind and tidal energy platform structures, as well as the study of climate governance and coastal regulation. Additionally, research explores the impact of port traffic on air quality, improvements in coastal management and the use of composite materials to minimise the environmental impact of naval and offshore structures. Finally, it delves into the physics of wave-breaking patterns and sediment transport to optimise coastal management.
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