Redesigning a Tracking Device for Researching Waterway Plastic Pollution

Abstract

Plastic pollution in Dutch waterways is a growing environmental challenge, contributing to ecological damage, public health risks, and increased operational costs for maintenance and cleanup. This report focuses on the redesign of Noria’s floating litter tracker, the TrashTracer, to address key limitations in the original design, including water ingress, insufficient durability, and high production costs. By employing a user-centered design process, the project incorporated modularity, improved waterproofing, better signal reliability, easier recovery, lower chances of losing the tracker and extended battery life, resulting in a more effective research tool.
Through iterative prototyping, stakeholder feedback, and technical analysis, the redesigned tracker enhances operational efficiency and creates added value. The project also ensures the tracker aligns with Noria’s mission to research and mitigate plastic pollution, contributing to broader efforts to improve the quality of aquatic ecosystems in the Netherlands. The report concludes with an evaluation of the project’s results and recommendations for implementation.