The Villefranche-sur-Mer Oceanologique Observatory is specialised in Quantitative Imaging, particularly plankton. The FlowCAM, ZooScan and UVP are available for users.
The Quantitative Imaging Platform (PIQv) is part of the Institut de la Mer de Villefranche sur mer (IMEV). The platform is also part of EMBRC France and labelled GIS IBISA via the MICCA platform.
The PIQv was created by engeeners and researchers from Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche-sur-Mer (LOV) and keeps being piloted by the COMPLEx team of LOV.
The platform employs taxonomists and instrument/software specialists to offer the best quality of services using laboratory and underwater imaging instrument and software.
The PIQv runs tools permitting to characterize and identify objects/organisms from 20µm to few cm (FlowCam, Zooscan, UVP5 and UVP6). It will soon host the IFCB imaging system permitting to lower the size down to few µm.