Those who live along the shores of Lake Huron understand its power and, sometimes hidden dangers.
Its ‘undertow’ has often caught swimmers new to the lake unaware of its underlying power.
The Municipal Innovation Council (MIC) aims to help Bruce County beaches become safer places using “current” data.
The Municipal Innovation Council (MIC) has partnered with Dr. Chris Houser of the University of Windsor, and an expert in coastal geomorphology, to pilot a Smart Beach project in Kincardine, Ontario — the first of its kind in North America.
Dr. Houser has experience in coastal communities around the world, including Costa Rica, Texas, Florida, Prince Edward Island and now, along the Great Lakes.
“We’re creating a dynamic warning system that is spatially and temporally variable, and lets people know, with confidence, before going to the beach whether today is a good day to go in the water or not,” says Dr. Houser. “This will be the most innovative beach safety program in the Great Lakes region and across North America.”
The Smart Beach project is a three-year pilot project that will provide beachgoers with up-to-date information on water conditions.
A smart beach uses innovative technologies to collect and analyze water and weather conditions and develop a system that will provide beachgoers with real-time information on local water conditions, including rough surf and the presence of rip currents so that they can stay safe at the beach and Kincardine will be one of the first to use the technology.
