Monitoring and Verification

2.5.1 Monitoring

A combination of photo documentation and advanced object detection technology provides robust verification of debris collection and sorting processes.

Waste sorting and weighing

Project participants must submit clear photographic evidence for each material type collected. Photos must:

• Clearly show the sorted debris material.
• Display the weight reading on a scale.
• Include metadata such as timestamps and, where applicable, GPS location data.

These photos form the foundational evidence for verifying material quantities and sorting accuracy.

Waste disposal or recycling

Project participants must provide clear and verifiable documentation of waste disposal or recycling. Acceptable evidence includes:

• Photographic proof showing the waste at an authorized disposal or recycling facility.
• Official certificates or receipts from the facility, confirming the waste's receipt, along with recorded weight and disposal or recycling method.

Object Detection Validation

To enhance accuracy, submitted photos are processed using object detection algorithms. This validation ensures that debris has been sorted by material type in compliance with project requirements. If inconsistencies are detected, they must be addressed and documented prior to submission for crediting.

Object Detection Model Requirements: To maintain high accuracy and reliability, the object detection model must adhere to the following criteria:

• Model Architecture: Utilize high-performing models such as DETR, YOLO, EfficientDet, or RetinaNet as base architectures.
• Training Datasets: The base model must be pre-trained on comprehensive datasets like COCO (Common Objects in Context) and fine-tuned using project-specific datasets.

Object Detection Report: A report detailing the model's performance must accompany the detection results, including the model's ability to identify relevant debris categories, and reviewable outputs for audit purposes to validate detection accuracy.

By integrating photographic evidence and advanced object detection technologies, Carbontribe's monitoring framework ensures reliable and verifiable data for ocean debris collection projects. Other helpful visualization including bounding box outputs and class labels are optional.

2.5.2 Verification

Verification is a critical process that ensures the accuracy, transparency, and credibility of the ocean debris project. It involves independent auditing by a third-party verifier, typically an accredited organization, to validate the project's data, including debris collection totals, classification, and disposal outcomes. Annual reports must include key metrics such as the total weight of collected debris, its breakdown by ecosystem type (e.g., coastal, river, lake), and the disposal or recycling outcomes. This information must align with the methodology's guidelines and demonstrate any resulting emissions reductions. The verifier's role is to ensure compliance with the methodology, check data integrity, and validate carbon credit calculations. The verification process not only ensures the project is achieving its objectives but also builds trust among stakeholders and enhances the credibility of the carbon credits generated.