To understand how microplastics break down, move through the oceans and freshwater systems and collect on coastlines, researchers and community monitoring groups must be able to quantify a robust set of particle size parameters. Saturna is a portable, standardized imaging and illumination device that plugs in to your computer and syncs with a standalone analysis web application to rapidly characterize and quantify visible microplastic particles.
Rapid, Standardized and Smart
Saturna saves hours of time and reduces human error by automatically collecting a robust set of size, colour and categorical metrics for visible microplastic samples (>400μm) like those collected from manta trawls, Neuston nets, beach quadrat samples, ingestion and community studies.
HOW IT WORKS
Isolate particles larger than 400μm using common collection protocols (e.g. net tows, community-based beach quadrat surveys)
Place collected particles on included background sheet beside our standardized QR code sizing reference
Place Saturna and included light-blocking shroud over top of the particles to block out external light
Collect a standardized particle image through the standalone web analysis application (included with Saturna)
Receive real-time sample image with size analysis and colour mapping created with proprietary image analysis software developed in-house
Level of classification: proprietary analysis algorithms analyze visible microplastic particles (>400µm) for physical characteristics, including 13 size and colour metrics
FEATURES
Highly standardized built-in LED lighting system provides consistent and reproducible lighting for your microplastic samples
Compatible with any Windows PC and operated using our standalone analysis application
Provides physical size and colour data for all microplastic particles imaged
Computer pattern recognition and sizing algorithms calculate 13 discrete size calculations for every particle
Predictive colour models calculate repeatable and standardized average colour calculations for each particle
The application is only compatible with the Saturna Imaging System.
The data below is provided for every particle imaged:
Maximum Width (mm)
2D Surface Area (mm2)
Convex Surface Area (mm2)
Perimeter (mm)
Convex Perimeter (mm)
Circular Equivalent Diameter (CED)
Bounding Box Width (mm)
Bounding Box Height (mm)
Aspect Ratio
Circularity
Solidity
Average HSV Colour Value
Average BGR Colour Value
SPECIFICATIONS
Use to collect high quality physical data for visible particles larger than 400μm in size
Integrated 8MP Sony IMX179 CMOS Imaging sensor provides high resolution data
Integrated ~4000k neutral white LED array and light-blocking shroud provide highly standardized microplastics images with consistent lighting for comparative size and colour analysis across time, location and external lighting conditions
Included QR Code background sheet provides accurate particle sizing reference for physical analysis computer vision algorithms
Use Saturna through our standalone application with any Windows PC
Waterproof hard case included for easy transport into the field (26cm x 20cm x 12cm)
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Desktop or laptop with USB type A port
Windows 10 operating system
Broadband internet connection
Saturna Case Studies
University of Tasmania processes contents from over 500 seabird stomachs with Saturna
"I never imagined there could be something like this that would make life easier for researchers.”
Fernanda Landim
Masters Student, University of Tasmania
“From a scientific perspective, Saturna helps give us so much information – it helps standardize. We can easily click through images and identify items in the seabirds, which is important for policy.”
Dr. Peter Puskic
University of Tasmania
Additional Saturna Products
Saturna can be used on its own as a research tool or as part of our community science and education toolkits.
Microplastics Community Science Toolkit
Learn about microplastic pollution, collect samples from your local sandy beach(es), use Saturna to upload and evaluate the data while contributing to a global Data Portal, Mariana.>
Microplastics Educational Toolkit
Use Saturna in the classroom, along with educational materials and mock sampling activities, to provide hands-on STEAM learning to high school students.
Contact Us
Tell us about your project and learn how we can help you to advance your microplastics research.
