PETtrace is an AI-powered environmental monitoring system designed to track plastic pollution in the Tisza River and identify its sources. The project aims to replace slow, manual, and expensive monitoring methods with an automated, real-time data collection and analytics platform.

The system combines AI-based object detection, automated tracking, and citizen science data collection. Using images and field data gathered along the river, PETtrace can identify the origin of plastic waste, map pollution hotspots, and provide real-time environmental intelligence for NGOs, researchers, and policymakers.

PETtrace has already established a partnership with PET Kupa, documented more than 550 plastic bottles in its pilot database, and is currently developing an AI model that has achieved over 92% detection accuracy. The long-term vision is to build a transboundary monitoring network across the entire Tisza River Basin, helping governments and environmental organizations better understand, manage, and prevent plastic pollution.