AQUARIUS Funding Call – Marine and Freshwater Infrastructure Access: Open 02 September 2025 – 28 October 2025
AIRS
Airborne Remote Sensing
Infrastructure Profile
Infrastructure Provider
Base Location
Headquarters: Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/C 34010 – Sgonico (TS), Italy – Hangar: Via Delle Presate 33010 – Rivoli Di Osoppo (UD), Italy
Organisation & Address
Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale – OGS Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/C 34010 – Sgonico ( TS ) – Italia
Link to Infrastructure Schedules (if applicable)
NA
Normal Area of Operation
Europe
Maximum Number of Days Available
50 days
Scientists’ Travel and Logistics (T&L) Budget Available
€ 6,000.00
Overview
Range
725 nmi (1340 km)
Seats
2 front (pilot and co- pilot/navigator), and 2 rear seats available for operators
Service Ceiling
25,000 ft (7620 m)
Gross Weight
2165 kg
Cruise/Service Speed
Cruising Speed: 188 knots
Service Speed: 110 kts (minimum speed for LiDAR and Remote sensing)
Top Speed
204 knots
Scientific and Technical Specifications
General Information
Piper Seneca PA34-220T – Registration marks: I-LACA
Twin engine Continental TCM TSIO-360-KB
Propellers: McCauley 3 blades
Positioning
Trimble AV39-F Avionics GNSS Antenna
2 COM/NAV Garmin GNC 255A
Scientific Payload
Laser scanner: RIEGL VQ-480II
IMU: AP+50 Applanix IMU/GNSS system
GNSS: Trimble AV39-F
RGB Camera: PhaseOne iXM-RS150F
Hyperspectral: Specim AISA Eagle 1k
Thermal camera: NEC Thermo Tracer TS9260
Greenhouse gas analyzer: Los Gatos LGR
Mapping Capabilities
Surveys:
LiDAR surveys
Photogrammetric surveys
Hyperspectral surveys
Thermal surveys
Air quality surveys
Cameras
RGB Camera: PhaseOne iXM-RS150F
Thermal camera: NEC Thermo Tracer TS9260
Hyperspectral camera: Specim AISA Eagle 1k
Support offered to AQUARIUS users
Airborne survey planning, execution, and data processing and interpretation
Infrastructure Availability and Contact Details
Year 2025
Lat 50°34’52’’ – Lon 01°47’02’’ Lat 35°52’50’’ – Lon 23° 50’ 33’’
Year 2026
Lat 50°34’52’’ – Lon 01°47’02’’ Lat 35°52’50’’ – Lon 23° 50’ 33’’
Year 2027
Lat 50°34’52’’ – Lon 01°47’02’’ Lat 35°52’50’’ – Lon 23° 50’ 33’’
Contact email for applicants to discuss the initial feasibility of their work while they prepare their application
Please direct all queries to the AQUARIUS Coordination Office: aquarius[at]marine.ie
Certification and Clearance Requirements
Additional training required
Crew Resources Management (CRM) training is required. It will be provided by an external organization.
More information on AIRS can be found here.