What we're doing is using satellite technology, digital aerial photography and ground-based global positioning systems to build the most accurate model ever of coastal erosion

Jon Mills, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

A team from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne is using aerial photographs from a microlight aircraft, satellite pictures, and advanced computer technology to build up a 3D model of coastal erosion in the area.

Jon Mills, who is leading the project, said the information would be used to decide where to locate sea defences.

"The traditional techniques involve watching wooden posts falling into the sea to estimate how much the coast is eroding," Dr Mills told the BBC. "What we're doing is using satellite technology, digital aerial photography and ground-based global positioning systems to build the most accurate model ever of coastal erosion."

Space pictures

The researchers will use the data to create a 3D computer model of a 13-kilometre (8-mile) stretch of coastline.

Storms pound the coastline at Selsey Bill, West Sussex

By comparing the model with monthly satellite photographs provided by the European Space Agency, they hope to be able to predict when and where coastal erosion will occur.

Coastal erosion is a huge problem worldwide. In the UK, work to improve sea defences costs millions of pounds each year.

With the current measuring methods, experts are generally only able to provide annual estimates as to how much the coast is eroding.

The new methods have the potential to be applied to the entire British coastline.