Coastal zone management-technologies, methodologies and solutions

The coastal zone now forms one of the fastest growing and most important resource areas for the UK, and utilisation includes: sewerage disposal; sludge and dredge dumping; fish, gravel, oil and gas extraction; shipping; and tourism/recreational use. Informed coastal zone management is crucial in determining the extent to which these resources can be exploited in a cost effective way whilst maintaining harmony with each other and nature. Many uses conflict with each other, for example waste disposal and bathing, and to some extent with the natural balance. The paper provides a brief overview of some of the innovations and technologies that are becoming available to organisations, public and commercial, involved in all aspects of coastal zone management. The view is biased to in-water studies, but many of the systems described are also applicable to the inter-tidal and shore zone. In particular the author discusses measurement of the sea parameters using satellites and radar