OUT AND ABOUT NEW APP MONITORS BEACH EROSION

KAY SAVAGE

MORETON Bay residents and visitors can now help monitor beach erosion, tidal inundation and recovery at nine regional sites with the launch of the new community photo beach monitoring initiative, CoastSnap. The program is a collaborative effort between the council, residents and visitors aimed at recording coastline changes over time.

Mobile phone holders will be installed at Redcliffe, Scarborough, Deception Bay, Bongaree, and Woorim, allowing residents to become 'citizen scientists' with a simple button click. Photos taken at these sites and uploaded online will help the council monitor beaches in real-time and understand and manage coastal environments for years to come.

The program is part of the council's long-term Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy, which involves working with government, community groups, and coastal scientists from the University of New South Wales. The CoastSnap app uses photogrammetry, a specialised technique, to pinpoint the coastal position and forecast its potential change in the coming decades. The app maps the photo's location, date, and time, and the technology behind CoastSnap can compile the uploaded images into a time-lapse video to track changes to the shoreline.

Mayor Peter Flannery highlighted the importance of understanding the processes of erosion, accretion, and inundation in shaping the coastline and how they can become hazards when they impact coastal assets and values.

"Erosion, accretion and inundation naturally shape the coastline. However, they can become hazards when they impact coastal assets and values, and how we use and enjoy our coastal spaces," he said.

Encouraging residents and visitors to participate in the program by taking photos at the CoastSnap sites, Mayor Flanner said that the more photos taken, the better the understanding of how the coast is changing over time.

Similar initiatives are being conducted on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Port Douglas.