The Australian Beach Safety & Management Program (ABSAMP) was established in 1990 as a joint program between SLSA and the Coastal Studies Unit, University of Sydney.
ABSAMP is an ambitious project that aims to be the most comprehensive study ever undertaken on the beaches of any part of the world’s coast. Detailed information on every beach in Australia has been amassed.
The main aims of the program are to:
- Develop a comprehensive, standardised and scientific information base on all Australian beaches with regard to their location, physical characteristics, access, facilities, usage, rescues, physical and biological hazards, and level of public risk under the various wave, tide and weather conditions.
- Expand and improve the management and safety services of all Australian beaches, and to assist other countries to develop similar programs
Data on each beach is acquired from a range of interrelated sources: topographic maps and aerial photographs, aerial and ground site inspections, beach conditions (produced on a daily basis by patrolling surf lifesavers filling in beach maps) and published data. All information is filed as a hard copy and all appropriate information then extracted for entry into the database.
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