Popular coastal paths often suffer from excessive foot traffic, which accelerates natural erosion and causes significant environmental damage. As more tourists flock to these locations, the pressure on fragile ecosystems grows, often leading to the destruction of local habitats and the degradation of clifftop paths and sand dunes.
Place Informatics, a leader in visitor location analytics, is leveraging its expertise in footfall and mobility data to support coastal erosion prevention efforts. By analysing visitor movement patterns, the company provides actionable insights that help local councils and conservationists implement effective measures to protect fragile ecosystems.
In the UK, many popular coastal paths, such as South West Coastal Path, Gower Coastal Path and the Cleveland Way face ongoing challenges from the sheer volume of visitors. The impact extends far beyond erosion—it also strains local infrastructure, with traffic congestion and limited parking disrupting nearby communities. Residents often face difficulties due to overcrowded streets, while local businesses can be overwhelmed by the influx or struggle with seasonal fluctuations in visitors.
Place Informatics’ advanced data analytics help identify high-traffic areas, providing insights into where visitors originate from, where they tend to gather and how they move through these spaces. This allows councils and conservationists to take proactive measures to reduce environmental impact and ease the pressure on local infrastructure. In addition to protecting fragile ecosystems, the data also highlights the strain on surrounding towns, including increased traffic and limited parking during peak times.
As a result, strategies such as implementing controlled access points, redirecting visitors to less sensitive areas, and scheduling seasonal closures can be tailored to each location. These data-driven approaches ensure that conservation efforts are not only effective in preserving natural resources but
