LoRa: Long-term Underwater Radioactivity Sensor Validation is a project selected under the 2026 EMSO ERIC Physical Access Call, led by PLOATECH with researchers from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) participating in the research team. The project aims to support the long-term collection of underwater radioactivity data and the validation of an innovative gamma-radiation sensor developed by PLOATECH for sustained operation in the marine environment.

Radionuclides are naturally and anthropogenically present in the ocean, yet their distribution and variability remain significantly under-measured. Reliable underwater monitoring is relevant to a wide range of environmental and societal challenges, including tectonic activity, food-chain contamination, nuclear waste management, potential illegal disposal activities, and large-scale releases associated with nuclear accidents or disasters. LoRa addresses this monitoring gap by evaluating the performance, stability, and reliability of PLOATECH’s sensor under real marine conditions.

The sensor is deployed at the OBSEA underwater observatory, providing access to a long-term operational marine platform for continuous testing and data collection. Through LoRa, PLOATECH will advance the validation of its underwater sensing technology and generate the evidence required to support its further development toward robust, long-term marine radioactivity monitoring applications.