Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Design and Implementation of a Microplastic Detection and Classification System Supported by Deep Learning Algorithm

Researchers designed and implemented a low-budget deep learning system for autonomous microplastic detection and classification in water, using three dual-wavelength lasers at 405 nm, 655 nm, and 534-807 nm to classify microplastics by size and type in real time.

2024 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Improvement and Empirical Testing of a Novel Autonomous Microplastics-Collecting Semisubmersible

Researchers improved an autonomous microplastic-collecting robot, testing design modifications that enhanced sampling efficiency and navigation in surface water environments, moving toward practical automated monitoring of plastic pollution.

2024 arXiv (Cornell University)
Article Tier 2

Design and Validation of an Eco-Compatible Autonomous Drone for Microplastic Monitoring in Port Environments

Researchers designed and tested an autonomous drone system for monitoring microplastic pollution in port environments, where plastic tends to accumulate in semi-enclosed waters. The drone collected water surface samples and transmitted data in real time, demonstrating a practical tool for high-frequency environmental monitoring in busy maritime settings.

2025 Sustainability
Systematic Review Tier 1

Exploring the Potential of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles for Microplastic Detection in Marine Environments: A Review

This review explores how autonomous underwater vehicles equipped with sensors could detect microplastics directly in the ocean, rather than relying on labor-intensive water sampling. Current detection methods are slow and expensive, making real-time monitoring difficult. Advances in onboard sensing technology could dramatically improve our understanding of where microplastics concentrate in marine environments.

2025 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

A prototype of a portable optical sensor for the detection of transparent and translucent microplastics in freshwater

Researchers developed a portable prototype optical sensor capable of detecting transparent and translucent microplastics in freshwater by simultaneously measuring specular laser light reflection and transmission, offering a feasibility pathway for field-deployable microplastic monitoring.

2019 Chemosphere 88 citations
Article Tier 2

Laser beam scattering for the detection of flat, curved, smooth, and rough microplastics in water

Researchers demonstrated that laser beam scattering using a low-cost prototype sensor can detect microplastic particles of varying shapes — flat, curved, smooth, and rough — in water, offering a potential foundation for affordable in-situ optical monitoring tools. The study advances understanding of light-microplastic interactions needed to design practical field detection systems.

2020 Optical Review 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Optical System for In-situ Detection of Microplastics

Researchers developed a portable optical system capable of detecting, identifying, continuously monitoring, and quantifying microplastics in situ at natural water bodies. The system uses optical techniques to observe the temporal behavior of microplastic concentrations at fixed locations, enabling real-time environmental monitoring without sample collection and laboratory processing.

2024
Article Tier 2

Quantitative Detection of Microplastics in Water through Fluorescence Signal Analysis

Researchers developed an automatic, portable fluorescence-based system for quantitative detection of microplastics in water, using dye-stained particles flowing through a laser beam to enable fast and objective counting without manual microscopy.

2023 Photonics 14 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Exploring the Potential of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles for Microplastic Detection in Marine Environments: A Systematic Review

This systematic review explores how autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) could be used to detect microplastics in the ocean in real time, replacing slower traditional sampling methods. While promising, the technology is still developing and faces challenges with sensor accuracy and deep-water operation. Better detection tools like these could help scientists understand how widespread microplastic contamination really is in marine environments.

2025 Drones
Article Tier 2

MantaRay: A novel autonomous sampling instrument for in situ measurements of environmental microplastic particle concentrations

Engineers developed MantaRay, an autonomous instrument that can measure microplastic particle concentrations in the ocean in real time without requiring a research ship or human operator. Automated monitoring devices like this could make large-scale, cost-effective mapping of microplastic distribution across the ocean much more feasible.

2015 20 citations
Article Tier 2

ANTIPARA (Analysis of Tiny Particles in Aquatic Environment): A Water Scanning Device for Microplastics

This article describes ANTIPARA, a water scanning device designed for in-situ analysis of small microplastics in aquatic environments. The tool aims to automate microplastic detection in the field, addressing the time and cost limitations of current laboratory-based methods.

2020 International Journal of Advanced Trends in Computer Science and Engineering 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Smart Ocean Cleanup: An AI-Integrated Autonomous System for Marine Waste Management

This paper presents an AI-powered autonomous boat system designed to detect and collect marine pollution — including plastics, oil spills, and microplastics — using deep learning image classification, IoT sensors, and robotic collection mechanisms. The system demonstrated over 94% accuracy for pollutant detection and classification across several AI models. While focused more broadly on ocean cleanup technology than on microplastic science specifically, it demonstrates how AI-integrated robotics could help address the practical challenge of removing plastic waste from ocean surfaces before it breaks down further.

2025 1 citations
Article Tier 2

An Artificial Intelligence based Optical Sensor for Microplastic Detection in Seawater

Researchers developed an AI-based optical sensor system combining an optical detection subsystem and an image acquisition subsystem to detect and identify microplastic particles in seawater, distinguishing them from naturally occurring marine particles. The device applies AI algorithms to analyze consecutive image frames and classify particles as microplastic or non-microplastic, with the full system housed in two portable cases.

2023 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection and Recognition of Ocean Garbage Using DIY ROV-Mounted DNN-Based Classification of Laser Images

Researchers designed a low-cost DIY underwater robot equipped with a laser imaging system and deep learning classifier to detect and categorize underwater garbage from microplastics to large debris. A custom-trained convolutional neural network achieved 91% classification accuracy, outperforming transfer learning approaches.

2023
Article Tier 2

Unmanned Vehicle and Hyperspectral Imager for a More Rapid Microplastics Sampling and Analysis

Researchers tested a combination of an autonomous surface vehicle and a near-infrared hyperspectral imager to rapidly sample and identify microplastics on the Norwegian coast. Results compared favorably with standard FTIR analysis and demonstrated a repeatable method for assessing spatially variable microplastic concentrations in the marine environment.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Mini Uav-based Litter Detection on River Banks

Researchers developed a drone-based litter detection system combining high-resolution mapping, deep learning object detection, and vision-based localization that locates riverbank litter with decimeter-level accuracy, enabling automated monitoring of plastic pollution in urban waterway areas.

2023 ISPRS annals of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Use of an uncrewed surface vehicle and near infrared hyperspectral imaging for sampling and analysis of aquatic microplastics

Researchers combined an uncrewed surface vehicle with near-infrared hyperspectral imaging to sample and analyze aquatic microplastics larger than 300 micrometers. The approach demonstrated improved scalability and repeatability compared to traditional trawling methods, offering a more efficient way to monitor microplastic contamination in coastal waters.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 11 citations
Article Tier 2

“WAVECLEAN” – An Innovation in Autonomous Vessel Driving Using Object Tracking and Collection of Floating Debris

Researchers designed an autonomous vessel called WAVECLEAN that uses object-tracking technology to identify and collect floating marine debris, including plastics. The system combines camera-based detection with machine learning to navigate waterways and gather waste without human operation. The study demonstrates a technology-driven approach to addressing plastic pollution in harbors, rivers, and coastal areas.

2024 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Towards an IOT Based System for Detection and Monitoring of Microplastics in Aquatic Environments

This paper proposes using Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to build a real-time monitoring network for microplastics in aquatic environments. Automated, continuous monitoring systems could provide much better spatial and temporal coverage than current sampling-based approaches.

2018 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Towards Underwater Macroplastic Monitoring Using Echo Sounding

Researchers investigated using echo sounding (sonar) technology to detect and monitor underwater macroplastics in rivers and coastal environments, presenting this acoustic approach as a promising tool for measuring submerged plastic loads that surface trawling misses.

2021 Frontiers in Earth Science 47 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel autonomous microplastics surveying robot for beach environments

Researchers developed a novel autonomous robotic platform for detecting and chemically analyzing microplastics on beach surfaces, using a camera mounted on a robotic arm end effector to scan areas and identify particles smaller than 5 mm. The mobile manipulator system automatically locates and chemically characterizes microplastics in situ, addressing the challenge of large-scale environmental monitoring in coastal environments.

2025 ArXiv.org
Article Tier 2

Use of Mobile Autonomous Systems for Pollution Control of Inland Water Bodies

Researchers examined the use of mobile autonomous aerial and floating systems for monitoring and controlling pollution in inland water bodies, including detection of illegally dumped construction and household waste that contributes to microplastic and groundwater contamination. The study analyzes existing practices and proposes improvements for using drones and autonomous surface vehicles to enable early detection of unregulated dumping with minimal resources.

2025 Open Access Journal of Waste Management & Xenobiotics
Article Tier 2

Cleaning up the world’s oceans with underwater laser imaging

Researchers proposed using underwater LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to detect and map submerged plastic debris in the oceans, arguing this approach offers higher resolution and greater safety for marine life compared to sonar, and could enable targeted cleanup of the estimated 70% of ocean plastic that lies below the surface.

2023 Journal of Emerging Investigators 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Portable On-Site Optical Detection and Quantification of Microplastics

Researchers built a portable, on-site optical device to detect and quantify microplastics in water. The device addresses the challenge of detecting small, often translucent particles without a laboratory setting. Portable microplastic detection tools could enable real-time monitoring in the field, supporting faster environmental assessments.

2023 1 citations