A new pilot project is coming to Station Beach in Kincardine this summer to help make the waterfront a safer place to enjoy.
The Municipal Innovation Council (MIC) has partnered with researchers from the University of Windsor to host a Smart Beach pilot, which will be the first of its kind in North America, according to a release from the Nuclear Innovation Institute.
On average, the Great Lakes region sees about 50 surf-related drowning fatalities each year, according to the release.
The project will deploy an integrated sensor network which includes water levels, wave sensors as well as traffic and pedestrian sensors. From these, the team will use the data collected to understand where and when waves will develop, and turn it into usable information for beach goers to use.
Kincardine Mayor Gerry Glover says they are excited to host the pilot project at Station Beach this summer.
“Every year we welcome thousands of people to our beautiful beaches, and thanks to the Smart Beach partners we will benefit from advances in technology to provide residents and visitors with real-time information on local water conditions to improve beach safety,” says Glover.
Lead researcher on the project, Dean of Science and professor in the School of the Environment at the University of Windsor Dr. Chris Houser has reportedly done extensive research around the physical and social dimensions of beach safety and drowning.
Houser says they are looking forward to expanding their research into Bruce county.
“Water conditions along the Great Lakes shorelines can be unpredictable – by the end of the pilot project, we’ll have something that Bruce County could use across all of its beaches,” says Houser.
Education, beach surveys and community workshops in collaboration with the University of Windsor will also be included in the pilot project.
Initial investments for the Smart Beach project was provided by the MIC, and from that, the County of Bruce and Houser recently secured an additional $260,000 in funding though Mitacs Accelerate.
CAO for the Town of Saugeen Shores and Chair for the MIC Kara Van Myall says, partnering with Houser’s team is a significant win for MIC members as well as for both residents and visitors to Bruce county beaches.
“The innovative new technology combined with public education and awareness will save lives here on Lake Huron – and in the future could help waterfront communities across the country,” says Myall.