What a smart beach looks like

June 26, 2024

The term “smart” has long been popularized as a way of attributing a certain degree of perception and decision-making capacity to things through the application of technology, specifically and mostly IoT and advanced analytics. And although sometimes it may seem strange or even exaggerated its assignment to an environment such as a beach, the truth is that the ability to give autonomy to objects so that they can capture information and even act in certain circumstances, make the adjective acquires quite a lot of sense.

Today, thanks to this technology, living in a smart city or frequenting a smart beach can make our lives much more comfortable and even healthier.

Beach digitalization

Bathing areas can be digitalized through different types of IoT solutions, allowing the measurement of environmental parameters and bathing water quality, a more appropriate management and cleaning of the space and a different experience for the visitor.

So, what could a smart beach look like? Let's start by thinking about how to achieve environmental improvement in this area.

Environmental factors

There are IoT devices that can measure different environmental factors such as air quality, gases and particles; meteorological factors such as temperature, humidity, wind, rain and solar radiation; and even noise levels.

Exposure to air pollution causes 7 million premature deaths; 240,000 in Europe and the loss of millions of years of healthy life.

The impact of pollution can be measured and assessed using air quality and noise solutions, and measures can be taken to ensure that our beaches enjoy the best possible environmental quality.

Bathing water quality

This concept of environmental quality also includes the state of the sea water. Sometimes certain buoys are installed in the sea that are also smart buoys.

These intelligent buoys include sensors inside and allow recording and monitoring water variables continuously, for information purposes for users, and to improve tourism and environmental management by the authorities.

The environmental health of bathing waters has a direct impact on public health and is very relevant for the country's tourism and economic development. At the same time the increase in tourism is a challenge for the preservation of marine biodiversity.

Thanks to this solution, the state of bathing waters can be monitored to prevent damage caused by the proliferation of boats or the use of chemical substances, acting effectively if necessary to preserve the health of our waters.

Capacity control

On a more practical note, who hasn't come across a crowded beach during the months of July and August?

The capacity control solutions, using cameras with artificial vision algorithms, provide information on the level of occupation in real time, its distribution by time slots, flow of entrances and exits to the different areas, etc.

Capacity control contributes to preserving the quality of the bathing waters, in addition to providing information to tourists and residents on the occupation of the beaches and their danger points.

Waste management

Mass influxes of people can sometimes lead to the undesirable consequences of poor cleanliness.

The possibility of accurately monitoring the filling status of litter garbage cans through the installation of wireless devices will make it possible to optimize waste collection and above all to make an early detection of incidents such as the overturning or misplacement of litter garbage cans, improving waste management in the area and contributing to the creation of a cleaner and more sustainable environment, improving the tourist's experience.

Interactive information kiosks

The incorporation of interactive touch-screen kiosks with different content on the beaches also helps to facilitate tourists' stay by offering information on points of interest, the possibility of creating customizable tourist information that can be downloaded or sent by email, a digital street map with geolocation or an interactive calendar of events.

Tourists are more informed with the interactive kiosks and can provide feedback through satisfaction surveys, which allows the city council and tourism service providers to adapt and improve their offerings.

These kiosks are specially designed to remain in outdoor spaces exposed to weather changes and resistant to vandalism to which it may be subjected.

Conclusion

Smart beaches are an increasingly widespread reality that take advantage of digital technologies to improve environmental quality, safety, accessibility, and visitor satisfaction.

These solutions create a more sustainable, efficient, and attractive environment, which encourages tourism and economic development in coastal areas. However, it is also important to remember that smart beaches do not substitute or replace the intelligence and responsibility of those who enjoy them, but rather complement and enhance them.

So, enjoy the beach this year. And if by chance or choice you end up at a similar beach to the one described, enjoy its benefits and remember to always wear sunscreen.