CoreRFID tags beach pebbles to support research project

By Tim Aldred

30 Aug 2023

CoreRFID Coastal Partners

CoreRFID is supporting a research project by individually tagging pebbles on beaches along the south coast, which will allow their movement to be monitored.

The ‘tracer pebbles’, which contain RFID tags supplied by the Skelmersdale-based firm, are being used to track sediment as it moves along the shoreline under wave action. The results provide a powerful tool to aid beach management decisions and the design of coastal defence schemes.

The system was developed over 10 years ago by Coastal Partners, which manages flood and erosion risk on behalf of five local authorities on the south coast. The organisation has carried out over ten studies to date and now has over 9,500 pebbles deployed at a range of different sites.

A year-long study at West Bay in Dorset has recently been completed, with the results now being analysed, while a new study has begun at Selsey, near Chichester where 400 tracer pebbles have been deployed.

Tracers consist of pebbles taken from the beach, drilled by a water jet and fitted with an RFID tag. They are then positioned along a stretch of coastline, and their location logged using GPS. Team members carry out regular surveys by walking the beach with a specialist RFID scanner which bleeps each time a tag is detected and automatically logs its ID number and GPS position. The data can then be uploaded, analysed and displayed in various different formats.

The pebbles contain passive RFID tags without a battery so they can be left in the field for long periods, and with a detection range of up to 1m. On average 72 per cent of tags are detected over a two-week period, with more than 95 per cent of all tags detected more than once.

Beach management is vital wherever erosion poses a risk to lives or property. Traditionally aerial photography and topographic data have been used to identify movement but the data can be limited. 

Emma Harris, a scientist with Coastal Partners, says: “By measuring the profile of a beach, we can see that material is being lost, and where it needs to be replaced, but we can’t see where it is going to. The beauty of using tracer pebbles is that we see the direction in which material is being transported and how fast. It’s another piece of the jigsaw and gives us a better understanding of what’s going on.”

Coastal Partners had originally sourced tags from overseas but following Brexit, decided to look for a UK supplier. CoreRFID recommended encapsulated, low frequency glass tags that were compatible with their existing readers, able to survive harsh environmental conditions and whose size and shape made it easy to insert them into pebbles. 

Richard Harrison of CoreRFID said: “Coastal Partners has developed a novel and cost-effective system that has been extremely effective in providing the data they need to help prevent coastal erosion and safeguard lives and property.

“RFID’s ability to identify and track individual items offers huge scope for creative applications, whether it is pebbles on a beach or items on a production line. By incorporating RFID into existing systems, it can help businesses to fill in some of the gaps in the data and build a more detailed picture.”

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

University of Central Lancashire celebrates hat-trick of wins at Educate North Awards University of Central Lancashire winners at Educate North Award Winners 2025

University of Central Lancashire celebrates hat-trick of wins at Educate North Awards

04 Apr 2025

2

The Villa’s sister venue shuts its doors The Villa Levens and The VillaWrea Green (Image credit: The Villa Levens and The Villa Wrea Green)

The Villa’s sister venue shuts its doors

04 Apr 2025

3

PM urged not to retaliate over tariffs Manufacturing

PM urged not to retaliate over tariffs

03 Apr 2025

4

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer Matthew Ratcliffe CMAC

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer

03 Apr 2025

5

For sale signs at The Villa Villa Wrea Green has been brought to market (Image credit: The Villa Wrea Green)

For sale signs at The Villa

02 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Lancashire Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880395853-4862066883-1-original.20241022-091152-2.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
04 Apr 2025 - 04 Apr 2025

Lancashire Business Expo 2025

Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
24 Apr 2025 - 24 Apr 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

People Power: Exclusive Event Series
Stay ahead in 2025.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
29 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025

People Power: Exclusive Event Series

People's History Museum, Manchester, M3 3ER

17:00 - 21:00

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships
30478 Skills Bootcamp open day setting.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships

University of Central Lancashire, Preston , PR1 2HE

14:30 - 15:30

Celebrating 50 years of KTP
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Celebrating 50 years of KTP

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

16:00 - 18:00

Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase
13421_research_knowledge_exchange_2025_600x300.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
07 May 2025 - 08 May 2025

Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin