Background The EU Water Framework Directive – WFD (2000/60/EC) requires Member States to implement monitoring programmes for a comprehensive overview of the ecological and chemical status of water quality within each river basin. Numerous techniques and methods are currently used for water monitoring, however most of them present various problems. These include problems of cost and reliability. The use of multispectral cameras is generating interest in the environmental monitoring field. Used in combination with current methods, this could contribute to improve the spatial monitoring of water bodies. Objectives The project’s overall aim is to develop a cost-effective, spatial tool for more efficient, sustainable, water monitoring and management, in line with WFD requirements. The core concept of this project is a new, remote sensing approach to the monitoring of water resources. This is based on UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) technology, able to cover extensive water areas and to provide data that could also be extrapolated to air and soil. The idea is to bridge the gap between satellite remote sensing (with critical limitations in spatial and temporal resolution) and airborne remote sensing (very expensive at regional scale). Specific project objectives are: To test two innovative airborne remote sensing systems, with (i) a high resolution thermal infrared camera and (ii) a multispectral camera – both using an unmanned helicopter as an aerial platform; To demonstrate the economical and technical feasibility of the tool, particularly in the fields of: (i) detection of leaks and seepage in hydraulic infrastructures and waste storage facilities, (ii) identification of water needs in irrigated fields, (iii) detection of discharges into river basins, (iv) monitoring of the ecological and chemical status of surface waters, and (v) detection of springs and water extraction for inventory purposes. Expected results: A demonstration prototype instrumented with a high resolution thermal infrared (IR) camera (8-12 μm), with a maximum take off and landing weight of 75 kg and capable of flying for 90 minutes; A second prototype with a 20 kg multispectral camera of 20 kg and 30 minutes endurance designed for studies of irrigation needs and water sampling and analysis; Spectral, geo-referenced, imaging information obtained from the prototype applications, and the real operating costs for data collection; Definition of the best procedures to carry out the proposed environmental studies including suitable atmospheric conditions for maximum detection, flight conditions, and on board instrumentation and operating parameters.