Co-construction of a dashboard for coastal management
On 8 December 2025, coastal managers, experts and institutional stakeholders gathered in the PACA region to devise innovative dashboards dedicated to the monitoring and management of the coastal zone. This workshop, organised as part of France 2030, aimed to define the data, indicators and tools needed to better understand coastal uses, natural dynamics and risks.
Participants worked on two themes: ‘Management of uses in Marine Protected Areas’ and‘Risks of erosion and flooding’
Group 1: Monitoring land use in Marine Protected Areas
Participants identified a strong need to better quantify and map recreational boating activity, distinguishing between different types of vessels and paying particular attention to those over 20 metres in length.
Monitoring of Posidonia seagrass, water quality and Posidonia beds is also a priority, with a marked interest in seasonal analyses and trends over 5 to 10 years.
Managers are seeking a simple, operational tool incorporating an interactive map, AIS and satellite data, heat maps and risk maps, and automatic alerts in the event of vessels anchoring in sensitive areas or the presence of oversized vessels.
Group 2: Risks of erosion and flooding
The second group focused on monitoring and anticipating coastal risks. Priorities include regular monitoring of the coastline, stepped up following storms; the topography of beaches from the foreshore to the closure depth; indicators of sediment dynamics and flooding, and 30-, 50-,100-year projections to support spatial planning.
Participants expressed strong interest in a Digital Twincapable of simulating coastal changes, and in interfaces tailored to experts, managers and the general public. The integration of the land registry, the Local Urban Development Plan (PLU), storm records and natural habitats is considered essential for understanding the impacts on urbanised areas.
Towards scalable dashboards
Both groups agreed on the creation of an integrated dashboard, combining land-use data, environmental data and risk data. The proposed tool is based on a central interactive map, thematic modules (land uses, habitats, risks), a multi-audience visualisation-system, and clear indicators to support both day-to-day management and long-term planning.
This workshop marks a key milestone in the development of a shared service, designed with and for managers, to support the sustainable and proactive management of the Mediterranean coastline..