Beach goers and photographers alike a being asked to contribute to University of WA's joint project with Peron Naturaliste Partnership.
The CoastSnap WA initiative aims to become a new beach monitoring solution which allows people to help collect data about the coastline from Rockingham to Busselton.
Photo monitoring points have been set up at nine beaches so people can capture the beach and upload to the coastSnap website.
UWA Oceans Graduate School's Dr Michael Cuttler said the project would help combat the severe lack of data available to researchers.
"With the large amount of beaches spread across WA's coast, it's incredibly difficult for coastal researchers to regularly monitor the coastline at sufficient time intervals and collect enough data to support science-based decisions on costal management," Dr Cuttler said.
"The data gathered from community members through the initiative will supplement existing coastline information, boosting our capacity to make more informed scientific decisions."
Visitors to the nine beaches can assist researchers in collecting data by visiting the CoastSnap WA web portal or using their smartphone to scan a Quick Response (QR) code using the signage at participating beaches.
The portal allows users to capture and upload a picture of the beach by placing their device in a holder built in to the signage, which ensures all images are taken with identical framing.
Researchers at UWA collaborated with the Peron Naturaliste Partnership- an incorporated collective group of nine local governments in the South West - to introduce the CoastSnap initiative to Western Australia.
Peron Naturaliste Partnership Chairperson and City of Rockingham Councillor Mark Jones said the initiative would raise community awareness about the impact of climate change and costal erosion in WA.
"Currently we are only involved with a regional program that collects data once a month, but this new program will provide the additional data we need to act upon coastal change issues and hotspots along our coast," Mr Jones said.
Beaches involved in the CoastSnap WA initiative include Mersey Point Jetty, Rockingham; Silver Sands, Mandurah; Heron Point, Birchmont; Preston Beach; Binningup Beach; Eaton Foreshore; Dolphin Discovery Centre, Bunbury; Dalyellup Beach; and Busselton Jetty.
More information is available on the CoastSnap WA website and Facebook page.
