What is satbuoy?
SatBuoy is a satellite-based virtual buoy observation network designed to monitor water quality across coastal and estuarine waters. Instead of relying only on physical instruments placed in the water, SatBuoy uses satellite observations to create virtual buoy stations at fixed locations. SatBuoy was developed to address a key challenge in coastal monitoring: while in situ instruments provide high-quality measurements, they are expensive, difficult to maintain, and limited in spatial coverage. SatBuoy complements existing monitoring programs by expanding coverage across large areas while maintaining consistent, long-term observations.
Satellite technology
Satellite observations have been widely used to derive water quality products, and Sentinel-3 OLCI processing framework was developed for analysis ready water surface reflectance retrieval.
Water quality modeling
Using radiometric and limnological dataset, local machine learning models were implemented to derive water quality parameters from satellite data. This modeling approach derived (1) turbidity, (2) secchi disk depth, (3) total suspended solids, (4) chlorophyll-a concentrations, and (5) aCDOM.
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Virtual buoy concept
Traditional monitoring imposes many challenges (e.g., sensor maintenance, technical assistance), and SatBuoy brings a concept to derive water information using satellite observations instead of a physical buoy with installed sensors
Oyster sustainability and more
Mississippi Sound is a very productive aquatic environment and this virtual network can quantify current conditions and emerging water quality issues across oyster reefs,
Satellite processing
Fieldwork
Water quality
Built with multiple data campaigns in Mississippi coastal waters
Our team
Vitor Martins (PI)
Assistant Professor
Dpt. of Ag & Bio Engineering
Mississippi State University
Expertise: quantitative remote sensing, high performance computer, water conservation
Uilson Aires
Postdoc Research Fellow

Mississippi State University
Expertise: water resources, hydrology, satellite programming
Rejane Paulino
Graduate Research Fellow
Mississippi State University
Expertise: Satellite image processing, water quality modeling, atmospheric correction
Elliott Buttler
Extension Assistant
Mississippi State University
Expertise: Remote Sensing, Hydrology, Water Quality, Marine Debris/Microplastics
Ashleigh Robbins
Visiting scholar
Mississippi State University
Expertise: Coastal restoration, living shorelines, GIS
Eric Sparks
Associate Professor
Coastal Research & Ext Center
Mississippi State University
Expertise: coastal conservation and restoration, living shorelines, marine debris
Holley Muraco
Assistant Research Professor
Mississippi State University
Expertise: animal health, ecosystem conservation, water resources
Cassia Brocca
Graduate Research Fellow,
Mississippi State University
Expertise: Hydrology, water resources, water quality, satellite data processing
Amanda Free
Extension Associate
Mississippi State University
Expertise: bacteria analysis, marine debris
Thainara Lima
Graduate Research Fellow
Mississippi State University
Expertise: Remote sensing, water quality, deep learning
Funded by
Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence
This project was paid for with federal funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and the Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act). The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Treasury, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, or the Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence.
