research and planning


COASTAL-COVER Coastal-Climate Overall Vulnerability and Exposure Risk – protection strategy for the Maltese Islands

The development of the C-COVER Coastal-Climate Overall Vulnerability and Exposure Risk – protection strategy for the Maltese Islands is an initiative funded by the European Commission’s (EC) Technical Support Instrument upon request of the Maltese Public Works Department (PWD), Ministry for Transport Infrastructure & Capital Projects (MTIP), and the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA). It aims to secure economically and environmentally sustainable coastal protection management taking climate change into account.

Concretely, the project seeks to:

  1. develop a national integrative instrument that will: identify the full range of policy priorities in order to reduce coastal pressures, while protecting and preserving the shoreline mostly exposed to coastal dynamics.
  2. assess coastal risks and identify sustainable, suitable, and effective protective solutions, that take into account the impacts of climate change, the integrated management of water and land-side resources, and land-sea interactions.
  3. promote national harmonization among the various ministries and key stakeholders, to implement of coastal protection solutions for the Maltese Islands, by establishing a consistent and holistic strategic framework at national level.

This project is being implemented by the Coastal & Marine Union (EUCC) and its core team of experts: the Environmental Hydraulics Institute of the University of Cantabria (IHCantabria), AKTIS Hydraulics, the University of Malta, supported by international experts.

This project is funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument.

Working in close cooperation with the Maltese Authorities PWD and MTA, over the next 24 months, the team will also focus on the the engagement of stakeholders and communication activities that will facilitate the need for an holistic and integrative process. It is expected that this action will allow the Maltese Authorities to take up the necessary measures to ensure sustainability of coastal functions and activities in the entire Maltese Islands coastline.

Note for Editors:

TSI-2021-MTCOASTAL Coastal Protection Strategy for the Maltese Islands (nr.101049757)

Coastal SAGE (Satellite-Assistance Governance of Erosion)

The coast is one of the most sought-after and frequently visited areas for recreational purposes. However, the local geology, in combination with natural dynamics leads to the erosion of rocky and clayey areas, creating risks to public safety.

The Public Works Department has partnered up with the University of Malta in a research and planning project that is studying and developing the use of methods and techniques for the use of regularly collected satellite data. The project was prepared through the assistance of the European Space Agency and the Malta Council for Science and Technology and has been granted funding under the Space Research Fund.

The Coastal SAGE (Satellite-Assisted Governance of Erosion) is aimed at the development of tolls and methods for the governance of coastal erosion risks, with the use of satellite data.

Coastal SAGE (Satellite-Assistance Governance of Erosion)

The project commenced in September 2020 and will continue through to 2023. Five sites which characterise different geomorphological types have been selected as pilot stusy sites around Malta and Gozo. The coastal areas include:

  1. Selmun
  2. Northwest Malta
  3. Nadur, Gozo
  4. Delimara
  5. Għar Lapsi
Coastal SAGE (Satellite-Assistance Governance of Erosion)

Information is being gathered from these five sites in collaboration with the University of Malta and with the use of different instruments and equipment for monitoring. Results and findings will be compared with EO (Earth Observation) data collected from the Sentinel satellite. Technical assistance is also being provided by the University of Modena and Centro Nazionale di Ricerka (Italy) for the use of specialised data processing techniques and AI (Artificial Intelligence). The research and results of the project will be useful for the management of risks from coastal erosion and are of interest to a number of entities. These are being involved and will be offered training as part of the project, once these techniques are developed and refined through it project.

Visit the project website for further information:  https://www.um.edu.mt/projects/coastal-sage/