Benefits of a large-scale, long-term, regional coastal monitoring programme for southern England

Large scale long-term coastal monitoring programmes have been established within southern England, to provide a systematic approach to collection, management and analysis of data for strategic and operational management of coastal erosion and flood risk. The programmes are risk based and integrate the requirements of operating authorities with coastal defence responsibilities at both strategic and operational levels. Technical and financial benefits are evident at a range of temporal and spatial scales.

A remarkable data set has been compiled that has enabled identification of a number of significant systematic patterns of strategic regional significance. Optimisation of beach management has been based successfully upon regional monitoring programme data. The programmes provide valuable insights into the performance of coastal systems and engineering works at a broad scale, with the high level of detail normally associated with much more localised programmes.

• Introduction

• Operational benefits

• Beach management schemes

• Strategic studies

• Regional overviews and strategic research

• Data management, delivery and usage

• Conclusions

• References

• Acknowledgments