Do you have the solution?
UKHO launches new innovation challenge to reduce the impact of coastal inundation. Latest stage in ADMIRALTY Marine Innovation Programme invites participants to develop solutions that use marine geospatial data to assess the risks and mitigate the effects of storm surges and flooding.
The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has launched a new marine innovation challenge, focused on identifying the causes and risks of coastal inundation and mitigating its effects.
As part of the ADMIRALTY Marine Innovation Programme, the latest challenge invites participants to develop solutions that provide disaster relief agencies with a clear view of coastal inundation situations, and support other groups to identify vulnerable areas and put in place mitigation measures before an inundation event occurs.
Caused by storm and tidal surges, coastal inundation poses a significant risk for seaside communities around the world. These events can completely submerge surrounding areas in sea water, causing substantial damage to infrastructure. With sea levels continuing to rise, what is already an existing problem for many low-lying coastal states has the potential to present serious risks to many more regions and communities in the coming years, with expected annual losses of 0.3–9.3% of global GDP.
Participants will have access to world-leading geospatial and scientific ADMIRALTY data throughout the challenge – including Anguilla data sets – and will also get the chance to work with leading experts and receive support from UKHO staff as they develop a prototype product.
The winning team will receive hands-on support and marine geospatial information, in addition to a cash prize of $10,000 Singapore dollars to develop an alpha product that could help to protect the lives and livelihoods of millions of people around the world.
Mark Casey, Head of Research, Design and Innovation at the UKHO, said: “Coastal inundation is a tangible and imminent threat that affects coastal states and communities around the globe. It poses a massive challenge to their economic activity and blue economic development. The creation of solutions that enable these risks to be mapped and mitigated are therefore crucial, particularly given the context of sea level rise.
“This ADMIRALTY Marine Innovation Programme challenge is dedicated to harnessing the power of marine geospatial data and identifying how it can work as a key source of information to help develop a better understanding of the marine environment. Alongside our other successful challenges, coastal inundation is a worthy effort to pursue new leading solutions for, and we look forward to working with all prospective teams and partners on their innovations.”
About the ADMIRALTY Marine Innovation Programme
The ADMIRALTY Marine Innovation Programme helps innovators and start-ups develop new solutions that support safe, secure and thriving oceans. Over a series of key challenges, participants will get the chance to develop these solutions using ADMIRALTY data sets, with winners receiving an opportunity to launch their products into some of the world’s fastest growing marine sectors.
The launch of this programme follows extensive research commissioned by the UK Hydrographic Office into the Blue Economy, which is estimated to be worth £3.2 trillion by the year 2030. Marine geospatial data will play an essential role in supporting this growth by enabling the identification of new areas for tidal and wind energy generation, supporting safe navigation for larger autonomous ships, playing a vital role in mitigating the effects of climate change, and more.
Find out more about the ADMIRALTY Marine Innovation Programme by visiting: https://www.admiralty.co.uk/innovation-programme
About the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO)
The UK Hydrographic Office is a leading centre for hydrography, providing marine geospatial data to inform maritime decisions. We work with a wide range of data suppliers and partners to support maritime navigation, safety, security and marine development around the UK and worldwide. We make location-based information available through ADMIRALTY Maritime Data Solutions, our world-leading range of charts, publications and custom data sets. Our use of marine data and technology, combined with our expertise, ensures we continue to innovate and provide a wider range of solutions.
We source, process and provide access to location-based information, ranging from seabed to surface. This enables our partner organisations to make critical maritime decisions – informing the sustainable use and management of the marine environment and supporting the development of the blue economy.
