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AI app to update beachgoers on sea conditions

Getty Images A pier extends out over the sea, beyond a sandy beach. There is a smattering of people on the beach.Getty Images
Data will be gathered from multiple sources, including a weather station at Boscombe Pier

Beachgoers can now use a new app to check wind, weather and water conditions before heading to the coast.

SeaCheck provides real-time updates about sea temperature, wind speed and wave height on Boscombe Beach in Dorset.

Launched by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, it pairs data with Artifical Intelligence (AI) to give users the most up-to-date information.

It meant people would be able to make informed decisions before entering the water to swim, paddle or surf, the authority said.

Getty Images Dozens of people lay on a sandy beach. There are colourful tall houses beyond, as well as beach huts. There are some people in the sea.Getty Images
It is being funded by the government through the Towns Fund

The app is being piloted until September, where its effectiveness will be assessed ahead of a full roll-out.

Over time, AI will be able to indicate whether there is harmful bacteria in the water, using information gathered by two buoys positioned off Bournemouth and Boscombe piers.

Millie Earl, leader of BCP Council, described the app as "innovative".

"By leveraging AI and real-time data, we can provide unprecedented insights into sea conditions and water quality that is available to the public," she added.

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