IHCantabria launches IHTESEO, an innovative modeling system for predicting the evolution of marine spills with global reach

The Institute of Environmental Hydraulics of the University of Cantabria (IHCantabria) has developed IHTESEO, a state-of-the-art online modeling system for real-time prediction of the drift and evolution of accidental spills at sea ─including hydrocarbons, chemicals, floating─ as well as to predict the search area and to facilitate the rescue of shipwrecked persons.

This system will be implemented in Cantabria, both at the coastal scale and in the Bay of Santander at the local level, within the framework of the MARION project, which is part of the Marine Science Program of IHCantabria.

An advanced tool for emergency management at sea

IHTESEO has been designed to assist competent authorities and agencies in marine pollution response and rescue and salvage operations. Its ability to generate forecasts in a matter of minutes and its user-friendly web interface allow its immediate use in emergency situations.

“Drift predictions during the first hours of the emergency are vital information for an effective response. IHTESEO makes it possible to calculate these predictions intuitively in a matter of minutes, reducing uncertainty and response times,” reports César Antonio Pérez, technologist at IHCantabria and developer of the TESEO model.

In addition, the system is connected to major global metoceanographic data providers, such as Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service(CMEMS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), allowing it to operate anywhere in the world.

Technological innovation at the service of the marine environment

The development of IHTESEO has led to significant advances in numerical modeling, with the updating of the TESEO model, a Lagrangian tool that simulates the transport and degradation of polluting substances, as well as the trajectory of drifting objects or people, taking into account ocean currents, winds and waves. The pyTESEO library has also been created, which automates simulation processes to improve the efficiency and speed of calculations.

In addition, within the framework of the ARES project, a specific module is being developed for the simulation of plastic pollution, which broadens the scope of IHTESEO in environmental management and in the protection of marine ecosystems from plastic pollution and marine debris.

Impact and application in strategic projects

This innovative system has been presented at various national and international forums ─such as the Jornadas Españolas de Ingeniería de Costas y Puertos, the OceanPredict 2024 Symposium and the IV Seminar on Operational Oceanography, Remote Sensing and SAR─, which has allowed it to consolidate its position as a key tool in the fight against marine pollution.

One of the most relevant milestones is its upcoming implementation in the framework of the COSNORTH project, funded by the Copernicus National Marine Service Collaboration Program. As part of this initiative, IHCantabria will develop a specific implementation for the Guardia Civil, with the aim of improving surveillance operations and response to illegal dumping on the coast of Cantabria.

Towards a safer and more sustainable future in the management of the marine environment

With the launch of IHTESEO, IHCantabria reinforces its commitment to innovation and the development of advanced tools to enhance marine environmental protection, maritime safety and emergency management.

“The development of IHTESEO marks a breakthrough in this line of research that we started more than 20 years ago, after the Prestige accident. It is undoubtedly a milestone for us, and the growing interest in the tool from various authorities involved in the management and response to these emergencies reaffirms the importance of this work. We are confident that IHTESEO will continue to evolve in the coming years, facilitating the response to these emergencies and thus helping to protect our seas and coasts,” concludes Germán Aragón, senior technologist at IHCantabria and lead developer of IHTESEO.