Satellites Enhance Navigation Safety on the Mersey with Cutting-Edge Tidal Mapping

The project, developed in collaboration with the Channel Coastal Observatory (CCO) and Peel Ports Group, demonstrates how satellite observations can map tidal exposure changes, allowing port operators to anticipate and address sand and mud shifts before they obstruct vital navigation routes. This proactive approach reduces the need for costly, large-scale dredging operations.

Russell Bird, Deputy Group Harbour Master for Hydrographic and Dredging at Peel Ports Group, highlighted the value of this new technology, stating, "Through this project we've been given new, fresh insights into parts of the River Mersey. Gaining an understanding of these areas is helping us to enhance the way we manage navigational safety and dredging strategies. The findings that NOC has achieved has showed us the potential to manage significant changes in the river more proactively."

The research combines optical and radar satellite imagery with data from the Gladstone Tide Gauge at Liverpool's Gladstone Dock, along with fine-scale water level measurements from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, launched in December 2023. This integration of diverse data sources allows scientists to generate precise 3D maps of the riverbed, revealing how sandbanks and channels have shifted from 2018 to 2023.

Dr. Paul Bell, co-lead on the project, emphasized the transformative impact of these technologies, stating, "The phenomenal advances in the capabilities of the latest satellites are fuelling a revolution in our ability to observe complex and dynamic areas like the Mersey Estuary on a regular basis. We are combining these new satellite capabilities with cutting edge algorithms developed at the NOC that distil this huge volume of data into 3D maps of the estuary that we can turn into movies showing how the sandbanks and channels move around."

This project is part of the UK Space Agency's broader effort to support businesses through the Unlocking Space for Business programme, which aims to leverage satellite solutions for sector-specific challenges. Lydia Green, Head of Business Engagement at the UK Space Agency, noted the broader significance: "NOC's project is a great example of how satellite data can be used to deliver operational efficiencies within UK ports and gives the organisation a competitive edge with new insights into coastal areas."

With this innovative approach, Liverpool is emerging as a leader in the use of satellite technology for coastal management, providing a model for other regions facing similar challenges.