Digital Environmental Technology for Enhanced Coastal Zone Management (DETECT)

Funder: Environmental Protection Agency

Project Team

• Dr Aaron Lim (PI)
• Dr Jennifer Keenahen (co-PI)
• Dr Larissa Macedo de Oliveira (co-PI)
• Kevin Walsh (PhD Candidate)
• Dr Vimalan Adaikalanathan (post-Doctoral Researcher)
• Cathal Gannon (Researcher Assistant - Technical)

Project Overview
Ireland’s coastal habitats are under increasing pressure from climate change, rising sea levels, and storm intensification. DETECT harnesses cutting-edge technologies (multispectral 3D photogrammetry, machine learning, and computational fluid dynamics) to create digital twins of vulnerable coastal zones. These twins will enable high-resolution predictive modelling, providing rapid-response simulations to inform environmental policy and coastal management decisions.

By integrating existing datasets (IPCC, Copernicus, EPA) with emerging technologies (multispectral drone mapping, 3D modelling) and advanced methodologies (CFD, geospatial modelling), DETECT will deliver a state-of-the-art simulation framework for Ireland’s protected habitats. This approach ensures actionable insights for stakeholders and supports restoration and resilience planning.

Key Objectives

1. Identify the most vulnerable segments of Ireland’s coastline using geospatial modelling.
2. Generate 3D multispectral digital twins of selected coastal areas for CFD analysis.
3. Model coastal change under future climate scenarios (sea-level rise, wave height increase, storminess).
4. Integrate in-situ data and predictive modelling to produce risk-suitability maps.
5. Evaluate the role of digital twins in data-driven decision-making and habitat restoration.

Impact
DETECT will provide rapid, science-based tools for policymakers and coastal managers, enabling proactive responses to climate-driven risks. By creating a virtual representation of Ireland’s coastal environment, this project positions Irish research at the forefront of digital environmental technologies.

This project is funded under the EPA Research Programme 2021-2030. The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

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