CoastSnap is helping scientists protect over 220 beaches in 21 countries across the world.
We rely on our phones for just about everything these days – and now, there's one more meaningful use. You can help protect one of Malta’s favourite beaches, Għajn Tuffieħa, with nothing more than a quick photo. Thanks to a global citizen science initiative called CoastSnap, your snapshot can contribute to real coastal research and conservation.
CoastSnap is a citizen science project that started in Australia, led by the University of New South Wales in Sydney, and has since gone global – with over 220 beaches across 21 countries now taking part. The project uses crowdsourced photographs to monitor changes in sandy coastlines over time.
And now, CoastSnap has arrived in Malta, with the very first monitoring station set up at Għajn Tuffieħa. It’s incredibly simple, anyone with a smartphone can contribute. Here’s how to do it:
- Head to the CoastSnap station at Għajn Tuffieħa.
- Place your phone in the cradle, which is already set up and positioned to capture the perfect frame.
- Turn on your internet and scan the QR code found just below the cradle.
- Snap your photo and submit it.
That’s it! The system’s photogrammetry algorithm takes over from there, using your photo (and many others like it) to analyse how the beach is evolving – whether it’s eroding, building up, or staying stable. The more photos are taken over different times and seasons, the more accurate the data becomes.
Malta’s beaches are vulnerable to coastal erosion, especially under the pressure of tourism, development, and climate change. This project offers a fast, free, and fun way for everyday beachgoers to support coastal research and conservation.
You can dive deeper into this fascinating global initiative at www.coastsnap.com, where you’ll find a map of participating beaches, photo galleries, and more about the science behind the project.
Have you participated yet?