Welcome to the website of the North East Coastal Observatory
The programme covers the coastline from the Scottish Border to Flamborough Head and commenced in its present guise in September 2008. It is presently designed to run until 2011.
The programme is managed on behalf of the North East Coastal Group and is funded by the Environment Agency, working in partnership with the maritime Local Authorities and other relevant bodies.
For a summary paper describing the programme click here.
This website collates all survey data that is being collected by the North East Coastal Observatory, such as:
- beach profiles
- topographic surveys
- cliff top recession surveys
- bathymetric and sea bed characterisation surveys
- wave data
- aerial photographs
This website also contains the following reports:
- coastal defence inspections
- analytical reports
- overview reports
These data and reports can be downloaded from this site using the Quick Search and Advanced Search menus on the left-hand side. The map on the right-hand side can be used to view the locations of the data.
The data can be downloaded from this site free of charge. All we ask you to do is register and agree to our Terms & Conditions.
The Quick Search allows you to search by place name, e.g. South Shields, where the data is being collected, and by data type, e.g. topographic or bathymetric. Click on the Quick Search Menu Button, type in your keyword and hit return.
The Advanced Search allows you to search by place name, data type and survey date. It also allows you to narrow your search to the map extent shown on the map on the right hand side. For example, if you zoom to the place called South Shields on the map and check the tick box 'Check this box if you want to use the current extent of the map:', you are only searching for data within the map extent that is visible on screen.
Click here for a list of place names where data sets are being collected. Information about file name specifications can be found here.
Alternatively you can browse the map on the right hand side to view details on where and when data will be collected. Please refer to the list of layers called Survey Location in the map legend.