Objectives of the research & technology development programme of WaterS 

1) Development of ground-based techniques for the observation of optically complex waters - Improve interpretation of optical signals from remote sensing platforms for the optically complex Nordic waters (lakes and near-costal Baltic and eastern North Sea) through bio-optical modeling of characterized variability in optical properties. - Innovation in development of spectral instruments to perform state-of-the-art measurements optimized for optically complex and heterogeneous aquatic environments, starting from the measurement signals and pursued up until the level of processing and disseminating the information for public release. 

2) Remote Sensing Techniques - Increase the operational monitoring capability of EO data by specifying, testing and developing processing algorithms which take account characterization of local aerosol properties and climatology over the Nordic region; bottom vegetation types and other environmental effects for optically complex waters, using the database collected during the project and the expertise of the research partners. 

3) Ecological Mapping through optical signatures - Improve the understanding of optically complex waters by means of classification and typification for mapping optical water types. Generate better knowledge about ecological status of lakes in Nordic region. - Development of novel product for lakes water quality assessment and mapping, as a precursor for a potential operational services using EO capacities, water quality retrieval algorithms and GIS systems for Ecological assessment of Lake Water Quality parameters. 

4) Data Management and Processing - Incorporate the developed technology into commonly used remote sensing tools published as open source code, to assist implementation and operations of operational remote sensing services in the region and ERA.