“AktiSOS: IoT Bins & Citizen Participation for the Mediterranean”

The AktiSOS project is an upgraded and more comprehensive environmental proposal developed by the AKETH PIRATES robotics team. It builds on the experience and results of the previous project, “The Mediterranean Sends Out an SOS,” transforming it into a solution that goes beyond simple awareness-raising and instead organizes action to keep coastlines clean. The aim of the project is to provide a practical tool for waste management on beaches and in coastal areas, especially during periods of increased tourist activity, when pressure on cleaning infrastructure becomes particularly intense.

AktiSOS operates through a network of IoT recycling bins equipped with sensors that record, in real time, the fill level and status of each collection point. The data is sent to an online platform, where the responsible authorities can view a “live” map and receive automatic alerts when a bin is approaching its capacity. In this way, waste collection becomes more timely and efficient, overflows are prevented, and unnecessary routes are reduced, leading to lower operating costs and a smaller environmental footprint. At the same time, AktiSOS actively strengthens citizen participation through an application that provides updates on the status of the bins and also allows users to report problems directly, such as damage, pollution, or areas in need of intervention. A critical new element of the project is that hotels and tourism businesses can also become part of this collaborative ecosystem, as they directly benefit from clean beaches and a high-quality visitor experience. Through AktiSOS, they can act as active supporters by adopting recycling points, informing visitors, and supporting clean-up actions in cooperation with the municipality and the local community.

AktiSOS contributes to keeping coastlines clean, strengthens recycling, reduces environmental impact, and fosters environmental awareness, proving that student innovation can provide practical solutions to real challenges facing the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean cannot wait — we are organizing the solution.