Divirod partners with hospitality groups in new Global Coastal Observation Network Initiative

May 31, 2024

Karen Sweaney

With climate change having the potential to significantly impact coastal tourism, Divirod, a provider of real-time water monitoring services, has partnered with hospitality groups having access to prime coastal real estate, in a new Global Coastal Observation Network initiative aimed at achieving sustainable planning through environmental uncertainties and evolving climate patterns.

As the risks posed by climate change increase, the lack of comprehensive water data and gaps in coastal monitoring infrastructure pose significant challenges to people and assets across the globe.

Only 0.07% of the world's coasts are monitored, according to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association), and outdated methods result in inaccurate forecasts for local conditions. This compromises the accuracy of predictive models and leaves vulnerable communities without the necessary information to make informed decisions.

Addressing the issue demands densifying the coastline with more tidal monitoring sensors and continuously capturing real-time data to ensure effective risk mitigation and sustainable planning through environmental uncertainties and evolving climate patterns.

Divirod has announced its Global Coastal Observation Network in response to this urgent need. This initiative aims to establish partnerships with hospitality groups worldwide that have access to prime coastal real estate.

Climate change significantly affects coastal tourism by creating unpredictable weather patterns, increased storm activity, and rising sea levels, often resulting in property damage, disrupted operations, and endangering staff and guests. By participating in this initiative, hospitality groups will gain access to invaluable water data that will not only help them understand the environmental conditions of their locations more comprehensively but also play a vital role in addressing the significant global gaps in coastal water data.

Due to the vast number of coastal hotel properties across the globe, the integration of sensing technology at these locations is pivotal to combating water data scarcity.

Ava Jordan, Divirod Program Administrator and Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive noted "the initiation of the Global Coastal Observation Network marks a significant milestone in our mission to revolutionise water data collection. By mobilising hospitality groups to host Divirod sensors at their locations, we're creating a network that delivers actionable insights, enhances safety, and fosters sustainability. Together, we're shaping a future where data-driven solutions drive positive change for our oceans, coastlines, and the communities they support.”

The benefits of this program for the hospitality groups are immeasurable. In the occurrence of a high-water event, such as king tide, storm surge, or flood, these sensors will provide real-time data and actionable insights, prompting resiliency plans to be enacted to mitigate damage, and ensure staff, and guest safety. Furthermore, this data is extremely useful for insurers protecting these properties. Traditionally, insurance claims for flood damage rely heavily on post-event assessments and subjective reports. However, with the accurate, localised data provided by Divirod, insurers would gain access to objective, immediate information to assist them in their damage assessment, expediting the claims process and minimising potential rate increases and disputes.

Incorporating data insights from Divirod's units not only enhances the hotel or hospitality groups' internal sustainability programs, but also serves as a powerful marketing tool. Through this initiative, hoteliers can transparently showcase their environmental commitment, sharing their data with guests through QR codes, signage, or digital displays in public areas. Additionally, they can provide access to reports on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, and reinforce their brand as a sustainable hospitality leader. Utilising Divirod data as a benchmark for sea level rise preparedness further strengthens the hotel's credibility and resilience in the face of climate-related challenges, all without incurring additional costs.

Divirod's mission is to build the most comprehensive local, national, and global environmental water-data network ever established. The company utilises cutting-edge technology to rapidly deploy and measure all forms of water with accurate precision, addressing critical geographical data gaps and augmenting existing, but outdated, sparse, and disparate environmental water-monitoring systems.

For more information on Divirod and to become part of the network, please visit https://www.divirod.com/ or contact water.team@divirod.com.

Image. Credit: Divirod

About the author

Karen Sweaney

Co-founder and Editor, Australasian Leisure Management

Artist, geoscientist and specialist writer on the leisure industry, Karen Sweaney is Editor and co-founder of Australasian Leisure Management.

Based in Sydney, Australia, her specific areas of interest include the arts, entertainment, the environment, fitness, tourism and wellness.

She has degrees in Fine Arts from the University of Sydney and Geological Oceanography from UNSW.

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