The Multiscale Observation Networks for Optical monitoring of Coastal waters, Lakes and Estuaries (MONOCLE) project aims to improve knowledge of coastal and inland waters obtained from satellite observations.

MONOCLE is requirement-driven and will use existing and newly developed innovative sensor technologies for fully autonomous and citizen-operated platforms, and provide the data infrastructure needed to maximise the sustainable exploitation of the satellite system (i.e. Earth observation data).

Ultimately, the integrated observation platform of in-situ autonomous and citizen operated sensors and earth observation services can be used to monitor the optical properties, and by extension key water quality parameters, for large rivers, lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, bays and other coastal zones around the world including, in particular, data poor regions.

A key objective of MONOCLE is to support the development of evidence-based policies and foster new environmental and climate services. The open data strategy and exploitation mapping of tested and validated set-ups within MONOCLE allows local and regional agents to tailor proposed monitoring solutions to their specific challenge and available resources.