Ref.: LIFEWATCH-2019-04-AMA-04
INDALO is an ambitious project belonging to the Regional Government of Andalusia that is developed within the framework of the European Distributed Research Infrastructure LifeWatch ERIC. INDALO focuses its research on the different main ecosystems of Andalusia.
The main beneficiary and coordinator of INDALO is the Environment and Water Agency of Andalusia (AMAYA) dependent on the Ministry of the Environment
Among its objectives are the creation of a network of climate change monitoring observatories, spread throughout Andalusia, run by all the Andalusian Public Universities and the Research and Training Institute Agrarian and Fisheries Association of Andalusia (IFAPA) and the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA).
Main Coordinator
Participating Entities
Scope of action
The work of INDALO consists of the study of the Biodiversity of these ecosystems such as arid and semi-arid areas, the Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean forests, high mountains, rivers, estuaries, marine, urban, and agricultural ecosystems; and the subsequent analysis of their evolution, in order to understand their behavior and prevent the possible consequences of global change
Oriented towards the future of Andalusian R+D+I, specifically in the field of biodiversity and ecosystems, and especially in promoting its direct connection with the European Union, attracting the private sector to the field of technological innovation.
The main actor of INDALO will be in charge of the development and operation of the REDIAM Node, and the integration of data into it, particularly data on:
Groundwater, coastal, and surface waters; water quality.
Climate, through the integration of various Meteorological Stations
Biodiversity: integrating information on threatened species, pests, marine biodiversity, etc.
Learn about the work of each institution
It will focus its research and data collection on Cultivated Biodiversity, creating a network of observatories that will connect to the REDIAM node. Likewise, it leads a study of the ecosystem dynamics of the Guadalquivir estuary
It will focus its actions on energy systems
Monitoring and study of the arid and semi-arid ecosystems of the Iberian Southeast, the most sensitive to climatic fluctuations. In addition to biodiversity, they will study the water and CO2 cycles in these ecosystems, which are so sensitive to global change
They will focus their studies on the Biodiversity Observatory of the Strait of Gibraltar: study and monitoring of birds, cetaceans, marine bottoms, bats, flying insects, etc.
Study and monitoring of Sierra Morena, and generation of an ad hoc data infrastructure: IFRDD Red SEDA-Sierra Morena. Various natural variables are monitored: flora, fauna, pollen, air and water quality, phenological cycles of vegetation, soil moisture, light pollution, etc.
Monitoring of pollen and spores on the Atlantic Coast, with intensive activity in Doñana, study of the impact of Global Change on the Tinto River basin, and characterization through LIDAR of Vegetal Systems in Sierra Morena
An automatic pollen and spore detector (Swisens Poleno Mars) has been installed since July 2022. The equipment has been installed in the Doñana Natural Park, at the facilities of the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) to develop studies in parallel with other teams from this research center. The data is uploaded to a server in Madrid, with a replica in Switzerland, which can be accessed through a platform. During this year, all the characteristic pollen types of the Doñana area have been collected in order to train the equipment with these types of pollen, as most of them are not in their reference database generated in Switzerland. Likewise, we have installed a manual sampler to validate the measurements made by the equipment.
Doñana Natural Park is the chosen location for the study
Servers for storing data (Madrid and Switzerland)
Data collected to train the platform
An automatic pollen and spore detector (Swisens Poleno Mars) has been installed since July 2022. The equipment has been installed in the Doñana Natural Park, at the facilities of the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) to develop studies in parallel with other teams from this research center. The data is uploaded to a server in Madrid, with a replica in Switzerland, which can be accessed through a platform. During this year, all the characteristic pollen types of the Doñana area have been collected in order to train the equipment with these types of pollen, as most of them are not in their reference database generated in Switzerland. Likewise, we have installed a manual sampler to validate the measurements made by the equipment.
12 sensors installed
The Tinto River basin is the chosen location for the study
Using SWAT code, flow rates will be predicted in the basin
In February 2023, a UAV with LiDAR sensor was received for LiDAR surveys of vegetation cover. After completing the training course and various calibration, adjustment, and contrast flights, different flight campaigns were initiated in the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park, as well as in the Marismas del Odiel Natural Area. Data processing has been carried out, and precision cartography is being generated from it, including variables such as vegetation heights and cover fraction of different strata, as well as other indicators of the vertical and horizontal structure of the vegetation cover.
Network of hydrological and hydrogeological control of wetlands and construction of a spectral soil library
29 sensors have been installed in 15 lagoons and lagoon complexes in Andalusia to improve the network of hydrological and hydrogeological control of these systems. The sensors provide data with hourly periodicity since June 2022, contributing time series of water temperature, water level, and electrical conductivity to improve the availability of field data on these wetlands.
Lagoons and lagoon complexes in Andalusia where sensors have been installed
The 29 installed sensors provide data on water temperature, level, and electrical conductivity since June 2022
This network complements the wetland monitoring system based on satellite data. This system consists of a web application and a set of satellite image processing tools, implemented in Google Earth Engine (EE). It allows users to obtain data and time series for a wetland or a wetland complex through a simple and intuitive interface. It is a valuable tool for effective wetland management, providing updated and accurate information on the state and conditions of wetlands, enabling users to make informed decisions about their management and conservation:
The database and thematic mapping of the state of soils in the Andalusian territory are based on a representative sampling of the Landscape Physiographic Units of the Andalusian Regional Government. Thanks to the INDALO project, 2,354 points have been sampled throughout the Andalusian territory, documenting climatic data, geographical characterization, edaphological parameters (information on the physical, chemical, and hydrological state of the soil), as well as the spectral signature associated with each point. The result is a thematic map that allows showing and analyzing the health status of soils in Andalusia.
Creation of a Laboratory for Genomic Biodiversity, the latest technology for measuring biological biodiversity in different environments. The INDALO project finances both the new building and the state-of-the-art laboratory housed in it
Network monitoring of indirect drivers of global change in Coastal Biodiversity (OEABC)
Installation of 4 video cameras on the roof of the Iberostar Royal Ándaluz hotel in La Barrosa-Santi Petri as part of the SIRENA Coastal Monitoring System. It was made possible through the collaboration of the Iberostar hotel network, which also provides the roof and electrical network.
The video monitoring system has been providing data since May 30, every hour from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. The data has not been processed yet.
A total of 6 CoastSnap stations have been set up on the Andalusian coast. These are: Islantilla beach (Lepe and Isla Cristina) and Torre de la Higuera (Matalascañas) in Huelva, La Barrosa beach (Chiclana de la Frontera) and La Fontanilla (Conil de la Frontera) in Cádiz, and La Charca and La Guardia beaches (Salobreña) in Granada.
The assembly took place at the end of May, where control points were also taken for the subsequent analysis of the coastline. Since May, a large number of photographs have been taken by users at the various stations (+40 in the case of La Barrosa). Information about the stations and photos can be accessed through the project's website.
During July 22 and 23, 2023, a field campaign consisting of 5 daily flights (11:00 am / 1:00 pm / 3:00 pm / 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm) with a route of approx. 2 km on the beaches of Isla Antilla (Huelva), Matalascañas (Huelva), and La Barrosa in Cádiz (4 km). Similarly, on July 29-30, the same procedure was repeated for Salobreña beach (Granada) and La Herradura (Málaga).
The study has focused on civil society, understood as a fundamental agent of change in the field of territorial governance and as a key element in the generation of knowledge with the capacity to influence environmental policies. The gathered information complements official databases that allow quantitative approaches to population, economic, and technological drivers. To facilitate their analysis and consultation, three geoviewers have been developed with information corresponding to the following themes:
5 daily flights on beaches in Huelva and Cádiz
5 daily flights on beaches in Granada
The study has focused on civil society, understood as a fundamental agent of change in the field of territorial governance and as a key element in the generation of knowledge with the capacity to influence environmental policies. The gathered information complements official databases that allow quantitative approaches to population, economic, and technological drivers. To facilitate their analysis and consultation, three geoviewers have been developed with information corresponding to the following themes:
The environmental commitment of local administrations in Andalusia
Citizen associations that carry out actions in the field of socioecological transition in the Autonomous Community
Water conflicts in Andalusia, addressed from a citizen science perspective
