Queensland researchers using drones to combat beach erosion

University of Sunshine Coast (USC) researchers are testing the use of drones to combat the effects of erosion on beaches.

The project is part of a collaboration with Sunshine Coast Council launched in April, which involves researchers collecting data on wave movements at Mooloolaba and Maroochydore beaches.

Dr Javier Leon with the $800 drone used to collect data on the wave movements at Mooloolaba and Maroochydore beaches. Photo: University of Sunshine Coast

 

The locations were chosen due to their popularity with tourists and because they are particularly subject to chronic erosion - when waves and tides wear away the sand and sediments which form the beach.

The Sunshine Coast Council constantly replenishes both beaches, but enlisted the help of USC researchers to calculate the best times and places to dump the extra sediments.

USC Physical Geography lecturer Dr Javier Leon is leading the project along with Honours student Ashley Rummell as well as members of the council and Griffith University.

"This has never been done in Australia so we're excited to see the results, which aim to help with future monitoring and management of issues such as sand bars and gutters, beach replenishment, dredging and erosion," Dr Leon said.

Over the last week Dr Leon and Mr Rummell have captured images from the drone hovering above the waves, taken photos using fixed surf cameras on beach towers and collected data from depth echo sounders on jet skis.

"We will process the video from the drone, compare the data from jet-ski and analyse the photos from the cameras to establish which one is more cost-effective and also accurate," Dr Leon said.

While the initial results won't be available for about two months, Dr Leon said yesterday's data collection highlighted pros and cons of all three methods.

The jet skis were slower to collect the data but highly accurate, while the drones were faster and cheaper but lacked accuracy and the fixed cameras will always be on location but only cover a certain area, restricting the information.

The project received $40,000 in funding from the council and finishes in March, when Dr Leon and his team plan to re-visit the beaches, hopefully during a significant weather event, to collect more data and compare it to Tuesday's information.