IMOS Coastal Wave Buoys- Victoria

The IMOS Coastal Wave Buoys Victoria (VIC) sub-facility is based at the Deakin University. The buoys in Victoria are comprised of a fleet of moored buoys supported by IMOS, State Government, Industry, traditional owners and research projects. The wave buoys are either Sofar Spotters or Sofar Smart Moorings with industry contribution of a Triaxys wave buoy. Sites have been selected to complement the existing observations collected by the Department of Energy , Environment and Conservation Action and address gaps in the Australian wave buoy network. This included input from advisors from CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology to determine the optimal location for a network of wave buoys off Victoria’s coastline. 

The team at Deakin University is led by Prof. Daniel Ierodiaconou, with technical support provided by James Devenport Paul Tinkler and Yvo Werner and trained contractors across the state including Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation. The program is also supported by the University of Melbourne by Prof David Kennedy and Prof Alexander Babanin. The VIC team’s research interests focus on understanding physical processes in coastal environments and linking these to coastal evolution over a range of time scales. The team utilises a range of field (including remote and in situ instrumentation), laboratory, and numerical techniques to study and monitor physical processes operating along the VIC coastline including impacts on biodiversity.

The VIC wave buoy network is supported by a range of collaborators, including IMOS, Deakin University , University of Melbourne, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Gippsland Ports and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.

The network  contributes to Victorian Coastal Monitoring Program to predict the impacts of climate change on Victoria’s coasts. This project involves the modelling of waves, currents, tides and storm surges and along the coast. This data is then used to drive models of coastal flooding and beach erosion including projections to 2100.

For further information on VIC IMOS wave buoys, please contact  Prof Daniel Ierodiaconou (daniel.ierodiaocnou@deakin.edu.au).

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