Coast survey camera providing vital information, delegates told

It can count basking seals, distinguish car models and can even detect that illegal little marina or landfill site behind a dune.

A digital camera employed for a national coastline survey is already yielding significant information - and helping to save lives.

The survey, which began last summer, has provided information on cliff access routes for the Irish Marine Emergency Service. Other customers have included archaeologists and environmentalists, Mr Brendan Dollard told the conference, which is hosted by the Marine Institute.

Commissioned as a research project to identify coastal erosion, the survey is continuing, and has photographed the coast from Carlingford to Cork and the Shannon estuary to Galway Bay.

Images have been transferred to compact disc with viewing software, and the first CD is expected to be available shortly.

The survey is very economical, with flying costs for half the coastline running at only £4,000. The resolution is such that the camera can identify lines on tennis courts, Mr Dollard said. The aircraft used is a Cessna 172. The data can be used for environmental impact assessments and habitat identification, while also tracking coastal erosion. It can highlight areas where vegetation is suffering because of recreational pressure. Funded by the Marine Institute, the project is due to be completed next year.

Significant errors in admiralty charts for the coastline are being identified in another survey, also funded by the Marine Institute. The project has taken two million depth soundings since last March, using the Marine Institute research vessel, Celtic Voyager.

The conference concludes today.