Drones and lasers map coast to tackle erosion

An international team of researchers is using drones and laser technology to investigate how natural habitats could help protect England's east coast from the sea.

Experts from the University of East London (UEL) and Waseda University in Tokyo have been surveying the Norfolk coast at Hunstanton and Holkham.

Using technology that can capture detail accurate to 2mm, they are mapping the coast and making 3D models to understand how environments including forest and saltmarsh can reduce wave energy.

The researchers say the results could shape future defences across the world.

The research, funded by the Royal Society, aims to provide guidance for the government and sustainable ways of protecting those living on our coast.

As well as carrying out drone surveys over The Wash, researchers have been carrying out coastal surveys in the saltmarshes.

Using a terrestrial laser scanner, they have been scanning the pinewoods at Holkham, which were planted as a natural sea defence in the 1800s.

Dr Ravindra Jayaratne, a reader in coastal engineering at UEL and a specialist in tsunamis, extreme waves and coastal erosion, is helping to gather the data.

"This is one of the largest and [most] dynamic ecosystems in the north-west of Europe," he said.

"We can certainly try to see how we can reduce the coast erosion as well as the coastal flooding in terms of what are the counter measures... we want to recommend for the future of the climate scenarios."

Liberal Democrat councillor Harry Blathwayt, portfolio holder for coast for North Norfolk District Council, said: "The sea is rising all the time and we've got to be putting in these interventions and natural intervention takes longer, needs patience, needs some sort of long-term plan... but yes, let's do it now."

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