Technology and Biodiversity Meet in San Rossore

Il Tirreno, the historic Tuscan newspaper long committed to covering innovation and the local territory, publishes today an interview with Antonino Albanese, Research and Innovation Manager at Italtel, about the WatchEdge project. A concrete example of how advanced technology and nature conservation can coexist in a new sustainable balance.

WatchEdge: Smart Monitoring to Protect Biodiversity

The WatchEdge project, coordinated by Politecnico di Milano and funded by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) under the RESTART program, is a collaboration between academic research and industry. Alongside Italtel, the project involves the Universities of Pisa, Catania, and Milano-Bicocca, as well as tech companies such as Nextworks, Sensor ID, and the CNIT RASS center in Pisa.

San Rossore as a Laboratory for Environmental Innovation

Italtel’s Contribution: Edge Computing and Cloud for a Smart Ecosystem

Italtel has designed and implemented the network infrastructure that enables edge data processing—directly at the point where data is generated. This approach drastically reduces the load on communication networks, ensuring real-time responses and greater energy efficiency.

In parallel, a cloud-based dashboard has been developed for remote and continuous monitoring of environmental data, accessible to operators and park management authorities.

Looking Ahead: The WatchEdge Model Beyond San Rossore

The project’s experimental phase will conclude in December 2025, but the results achieved so far lay the groundwork for expanding the WatchEdge model nationally and across Europe.

A replicable solution that demonstrates how digital innovation and environmental sustainability can coexist—improving quality of life while protecting natural heritage.