Building Resiliency
To improve the environmental resiliency of Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach by collecting real-time data to support operational planning and decision-making.
Challenge
Local officials needed better data for several reasons: to meet state regulatory requirements, evaluate potential solutions, and support long-term infrastructure planning.
Solution
Through its technology pilot program, Smart North Florida facilitated the solution, connecting Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach with an innovative environmental data monitoring company located in the United Kingdom, WATR.
WATR deployed autonomous equipment to continuously measure water salinity and transmit real-time data through a cloud-based platform. The system provides local officials with continuous visibility of environmental conditions with minimal infrastructure and no manual sampling.
Results
The pilot provided the cities with real-time environmental monitoring data, allowing staff to better understand the impacts of saltwater intrusion and changing water conditions.
The project demonstrates how affordable, easy-to-deploy technology can support data-driven decision-making and help communities evaluate future investments. As additional data is collected, the information will inform environmental planning and ecosystem preservation efforts.
