Accurate 3D data describing coastal morphology is essential for mapping vulnerable ecosystems and understanding patterns of change over time. However, acquiring such data at scale using drone or aerial surveys is costly and logistically challenging, leaving a critical gap between terrestrial elevation and marine bathymetry datasets. Freely available Earth observation satellite imagery offers a scalable alternative for consistent, long-term coastal mapping.
The Digital Earth Australia (DEA) Intertidal product suite provides multi-temporal representations of Australia’s intertidal zone from 2016 onward, including elevation, exposure, and extent, supported by a range of auxiliary data layers. Developed in collaboration with domain experts, the suite enables improved coastal monitoring and management. Applications include tracking geomorphic change and detecting sediment dynamics, supporting a better understanding of coastal processes.
Future development will integrate intertidal elevation with geomorphic classifications and stakeholder-driven hazard frameworks to produce nationally consistent coastal hazard information. This work will support risk assessment, ecosystem management, regulatory decision-making, and long-term coastal planning, aligning geoscientific data with real-world management needs.