On August 9th 2024, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mahidol University, in collaboration with the UNEP under the project “Strengthening Plastic Pollution Management in Asia and the Pacific,” hosted a training session on using CCTV cameras to detect plastic waste in rivers. Held at the Richmond Stylish Convention Hotel, the event focused on advancing technology for monitoring and evaluating plastic waste in rivers before it reaches the ocean. It also provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange knowledge and enhance their skills with modern technology for effective management of marine plastic waste. 

The session was led by Dr. Sayaka Ono from UNEP and Asst. Prof. Dr. Korporn Panyim, Deputy Dean for Administration, Research, and Innovation at the Faculty of Engineering. Dr. Kittiphon Boonma and his team from the Geoinformatics Center, Asian Institute of Technology (GIC AIT), presented a lecture on the pLitter CCTV system and demonstrated its use at Wat Bang Bua in Bangkok. 

Participants learned about plastic pollution’s sources, impacts, and challenges, and received training on the pLitter CCTV system’s capabilities, including image processing and artificial intelligence for tracking plastic waste. By the end of the session, attendees were equipped to tackle this pressing environmental issue effectively.