Project description
SubseaLIF is a collaborative R&D project between LIFeLiDAR and Adequate Tools, aimed at tackling one of the most pressing yet invisible environmental challenges: uncontrolled underwater pollution. Our goal is to create a new standard for real-time remote detection of contaminants in marine environments by integrating proven Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) technology into compact, autonomous underwater LiDAR systems.
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Project Mission
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The primary mission of SubseaLIF is to empower governments, environmental agencies, and industrial operators with a powerful tool to detect and monitor hydrocarbon leaks, wastewater discharges, and other organic pollutants directly at sea — even in conditions where traditional sensors fail.
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By enabling fast, accurate, and wide-area assessments of pollution sources, SubseaLIF contributes directly to:
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Reducing environmental impact from industrial and urban discharge
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Enforcing environmental regulations and compliance
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Improving operational safety in offshore oil and gas infrastructure
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Supporting global efforts to protect marine biodiversity and water quality
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Key Advantages of SubseaLIF
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Ultra-sensitive pollutant detection — including oil-in-water emulsions and sewage
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Real-time operation, unaffected by sunlight, waves, or weather
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Extended range and selectivity — outperforms current sensors on the market
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Modular and scalable — adaptable for shallow water, coastal zones, and deep-sea missions (down to 6000 m)
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Easy integration with underwater drones, surface vessels, and autonomous platforms
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Compact and patentable design, suitable for large-scale deployment
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Addressable Market in Europe
Europe alone presents a vast need for such technology:
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3,500 industrial sea outflow pipes
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9,000 wastewater discharge points
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1,200 marine and river ports
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Over 10,000 km of offshore oil and gas infrastructure
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Yet today, there are no suitable remote sensing systems capable of detecting submerged contaminant flows with sufficient sensitivity, reliability, and independence from weather conditions.
SubseaLIF fills this critical technological gap.
Members of the Consortium
LIFeLiDAR specializes in developing micro-scale LIF (Laser-Induced Fluorescence) LiDAR and miniaturized radiometric prototypes for environmental monitoring across various aquatic environments. With expertise in laser-induced fluorescence and portable radiometers, the company focuses on precise, in-situ measurements. LIFeLiDAR is actively working to promote these prototypes for future commercialization and is expanding its network of collaborations to apply these innovative technologies in diverse scientific and environmental fields.
​Adequate Tools develops compact, high-performance underwater systems for scientific and industrial applications, with a focus on autonomous sensing, data acquisition, and intelligent control. Leveraging expertise in mechatronics, optics, and embedded systems, the company delivers tailored solutions for harsh marine environments. Adequate Tools is committed to advancing next-generation tools for environmental monitoring, robotics integration, and scalable deployment — supporting partners across research, infrastructure, and environmental protection sectors.
