CoastCams: Coastal Monitoring

Open-source MATLAB toolbox for quantifying wave parameters, water levels, bathymetry, and morphology from coastal video imagery

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Open

Source

Free

Forever

Published

Research

CoastCams Methodology

Environmental Modelling & Software

Original CoastCams paper introducing the toolbox methodology

Read Paper →

Ocean Dynamics

Application study using CoastCams for coastal analysis

Read Paper →

Open Source

Free MATLAB toolbox for coastal monitoring and analysis

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About CoastCams

The Problem

Coastal monitoring is essential for understanding nearshore processes, coastal erosion, and wave dynamics. However, traditional methods are:

  • Expensive: Commercial solutions cost thousands of dollars
  • Complex: Require specialized expertise and training
  • Fragmented: Multiple tools needed for different analyses
  • Time-consuming: Manual processing of video imagery

The Solution

CoastCams provides a unified, open-source solution that makes coastal monitoring accessible to everyone:

  • Free & Open-Source: No licensing fees, community-driven development
  • User-Friendly: Simplified workflow for researchers and coastal managers
  • Comprehensive: All-in-one toolbox for diverse coastal analyses
  • Automated: Error handling and batch processing capabilities

How It Works

1

Video Acquisition

Capture coastal imagery using land-based cameras

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2

Timestack Creation

Generate orthorectified timestack images

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3

CoastCams Analysis

Process images to extract wave parameters, bathymetry, and morphology

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4

Results & Insights

Visualize and analyze coastal dynamics

Why Choose CoastCams?

Commercial Solutions

  • High licensing costs ($$$)
  • Proprietary algorithms
  • Limited customization
  • Vendor lock-in
  • Restricted access
VS

CoastCams (Open-Source)

  • Completely free
  • Transparent methodology
  • Fully customizable
  • Community-driven
  • Globally accessible

Wave Parameters

Comprehensive wave analysis including period, height, and direction

Water Levels

Mean water level detection and tidal analysis

Bathymetry

Enhanced depth estimation using wave dispersion

Morphology

Shoreline detection and coastal change monitoring

Documentation

Everything you need to get started with CoastCams

Getting Started

Installation guide and quick start tutorial

User Guide

Detailed instructions and configuration options

Example Scripts

Sample workflows and analysis scripts

Research Paper

Methodology and validation studies

Support

Report issues and get help

License

MIT License - free to use and modify

Quick Installation

git clone https://github.com/NuytsSiegmund/CoastCams.git

Add the CoastCams directory to your MATLAB path and you're ready to go!

Case Studies

Real-world applications of CoastCams

Socoa Beach, France

Bay of Biscay, Basque Coast

Socoa Beach serves as a primary validation site for CoastCams, demonstrating the toolbox's capabilities in a complex coastal environment characterized by:

  • High-energy wave conditions
  • Significant tidal range
  • Dynamic morphological changes
  • Protected harbor infrastructure

Key Results:

Wave Height Accuracy: ±0.15m
Wave Period: 8-15 seconds
Bathymetry Resolution: 0.5m intervals
Socoa Beach Timestack - October 13, 2021, 10:00 AM

Socoa Beach Timestack - October 13, 2021

Global Applications

CoastCams has been deployed in various coastal environments worldwide:

  • Mediterranean coasts (Spain, France)
  • Atlantic shorelines (France, Portugal)
  • Pacific regions (ongoing research)
  • Protected bays and estuaries

Research Focus Areas

  • Storm impact assessment
  • Seasonal morphology changes
  • Wave climate characterization
  • Coastal erosion monitoring
  • Nearshore bar dynamics

User Applications

Researchers and coastal managers use CoastCams for:

  • Long-term monitoring programs
  • Beach nourishment evaluation
  • Coastal structure effectiveness
  • Climate change adaptation studies

Before/After Visualizations

Raw Video Frame

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Processed Timestack

Oblique Image

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Georectified View

Publications

Featured

CoastCams: A MATLAB toolbox making accessible estimations of nearshore processes, mean water levels, and morphology from timestack images

Nuyts, S., Almar, R., Morichon, D., Dealbera, S., Abalia, A., Muñoz, J. M., Abessolo, G. O., & Regard, V.

Environmental Modelling & Software, 168, 105800 (2023)

View Paper

Publications Using CoastCams

Ocean Dynamics - Coastal monitoring application

Research study implementing CoastCams for coastal analysis

Application Study View Paper →

Please Cite CoastCams

If you use CoastCams in your research, please cite our paper:

Nuyts, S., Almar, R., Morichon, D., Dealbera, S., Abalia, A., Muñoz, J. M., Abessolo, G. O., & Regard, V. (2023). CoastCams: A MATLAB toolbox making accessible estimations of nearshore processes, mean water levels, and morphology from timestack images. Environmental Modelling & Software, 168, 105800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2023.105800