From Urgent Need to Technological Solution: Piloting a Water Quality Monitoring System for Marine Ecosystem Conservation in Nha Trang – Khánh Hòa

In recent years, the marine ecosystem in Nha Trang – Khánh Hòa, particularly coral reefs, has been degrading at an alarming rate. Between 2002 and 2024 alone, the area lost approximately 191 hectares of coral reefs (Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, 2025), while 96% of the remaining reefs have been affected by human activities (Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands, 2022). At the current rate of degradation, projections suggest that these coral ecosystems could disappear within the next 20 years without timely intervention. 

However, current management and conservation efforts face significant limitations due to the lack of continuous monitoring systems, fragmented data, and the absence of early-warning tools. Most monitoring activities still rely on manual surveys, making it difficult to detect early risks such as declining water quality or coral bleaching. 

In response to these practical challenges, the research team from the Biodiversity Conservation Project at the VinUni Smart Green Transformation Center (GREEN-X) has developed a water quality monitoring system for marine ecosystem conservation, integrating hardware, data platforms, and artificial intelligence. 

At the device level, the system is designed as a fully integrated monitoring station mounted on a marine buoy, combining mechanical, electronic, and control software components. It enables continuous collection of key environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and turbidity, while also incorporating underwater cameras and acoustic sensors to monitor ecosystem conditions. 

At the platform level, data is transmitted to a cloud-based system featuring a real-time monitoring dashboard, integrated with multi-modal AI models and a mobile application. Beyond observation, the system is designed to analyze data, identify trends, and support predictive capabilities, enabling more informed decision-making in management and conservation. 

The system has been piloted at Hòn Mun, Nha Trang Bay. The pilot aims to validate system performance under real-world conditions, assess technical reliability, and evaluate its capacity to support local management practices. 

Through this initiative, the project aims to establish a monitoring model that is continuous, automated, and predictive, gradually replacing traditional monitoring approaches. In the long term, the system is expected to provide reliable, evidence-based data to support management, enable early detection of environmental risks, and inform effective conservation strategies. 

Beyond a technical pilot, this initiative represents a new approach to marine conservation: Integrating environmental science, digital technology, and artificial intelligence to develop scalable solutions. In doing so, GREEN-X contributes to strengthening marine ecosystem management in Khánh Hòa, supporting the transition toward a sustainable and resilient blue economy. 

Reference: 

Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands. (2022, August 24). Bảo tồn hệ sinh thái rạn san hô – Bài 2: Rạn san hô kêu cứu [Conserving Coral Reef Ecosystems – Part 2: Coral Reefs Cry for Help]. https://vasi.mae.gov.vn/cuoc-thi-cung-giu-mau-xanh-cua-bien/bao-ton-he-sinh-thai-ran-san-ho–bai-2-ran-san-ho-keu-cuu-905.htm  

Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration. (2025, July 9). Báo động nghiêm trọng cho du lịch biển vịnh Nha Trang: Mất gần 200 ha rạn san hô. [Serious Alarm for Marine Tourism in Nha Trang Bay: Nearly 200 Hectares of Coral Reefs Lost] .https://vnmha.mae.gov.vn/bao-ong-nghiem-trong-cho-du-lich-bien-vinh-nha-trang-mat-gan-200-ha-ran-san-ho-16963.htm