The importance of technology in recreational environments
The evolution of technology, especially in areas such as artificial intelligence, automation and big data analysis, is playing a crucial role in improving safety in busy recreational spaces, such as beaches, lakes and rivers, during the summer season.
Civil Protection Initiative
In this context, Civil Protection has launched an experimental phase on several beaches in towns such as Cambrils, Roses and Mataró. This initiative seeks to incorporate a lifeguard service that takes advantage of technology to automatically collect real-time data on wave conditions, allowing its comparison with the information provided by municipal rescue services.
Bathroom Safety Assessment
The objective of this test is to determine, through effective data management and, if applicable, the use of artificial intelligence tools, whether or not it is safe to carry out bathing activities. If this pilot phase demonstrates its effectiveness, Civil Protection will consider the possibility of implementing this system on other beaches or coves in Catalonia that currently lack surveillance, adjusting access to aquatic activities according to the information collected automatically.
Signaling buoys
The system is based on specific devices that measure waves, which are installed on signaling buoys placed by the municipalities to mark bathing areas. These devices send the data to the corresponding department, which is reflected in the beach status display and in an application available to local authorities or beach managers.
Cooperation and project financing
The implementation of this experimental phase has been carried out in collaboration with the three aforementioned town councils, which are responsible for financing the signage service. The total cost of this test phase is 5,711.81 euros, VAT included, and has been developed by the company Ona Safe & Clean, in association with the team at the SARTI center of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.
Warning system for bathers
If the results of this pilot phase are positive, the possibility of establishing a warning system to inform bathers in places where there is no active surveillance service will be explored. This system would include the installation of a prototype of traffic lights that would indicate, with colors, the suitability of the conditions for bathing: green for safe areas, yellow for warnings, and red for prohibitions.
Tests on the horizon
It is expected that this traffic light can be tested starting in September, being placed in visible locations close to unsupervised beaches or coves, as well as outside the lifeguard service’s opening hours. In addition, this system would give municipal administrators the flexibility to change the color of the traffic light for reasons unrelated to wave conditions, such as water contamination or the presence of jellyfish, thus guaranteeing greater protection for bathers.