Objectives of the service
The targeted service focusses on providing an accurate surf condition forecast based on modern modelling techniques that utilize the most recent seabed topography (bathymetry) available to better describe the interaction of ocean waves entering shallow waters. While current wave forecasts rely on deep ocean models, ocean waves undergo significant transformation when entering shallow zones. Consequently, for nearshore activities like the surf sport accurate information on local wave conditions is essential for safety, performance, and operational planning. The SpaceSurf service enhances the accuracy and quality of surf forecasts for the surfing industry by combining local Satellite-Derived-Bathymetry data with a nested modelling framework capable of resolving nearshore wave dynamics at a local scale.
Users and their needs
The primary customer segments are individual surfers and surf schools, both of whom rely on digital surf‑condition information for planning sessions and trips. Integrating such forecasts into daily routines is common practice. For these users, forecast accuracy and reliability are critical and represent their biggest pain point. If an alternative app offers better accuracy, surfers are motivated to switch. Potential customers span all surfable regions worldwide, with major surf locations concentrated in North America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Australia. Surf associations and coastal engineers form a secondary user group, but their small number makes them less commercially significant.
Service/ system concept
The service implementation is a mobile application involving dedicated backend and frontend components, which will cover all computing steps required to derive real-time and forecast information to the end-customer in a user-friendly manner. The building blocks include SDB generation through physical retrieval from Sentinel-2 imagery and a local wave modelling engine that integrates the high-resolution bathymetry information along with MetOcean data. Process automation ensures continuous delivery of results to the mobile user interface.
Space Added Value
SpaceSurf integrates EO and satellite navigation to improve nearshore wave forecasting. The service uses Sentinel‑2 data to derive shallow‑water bathymetry from the shoreline to depths of 10–20 m, an area critical for understanding wave breaking, sandbar movement, and coastal dynamics relevant to surfers. Sentinel‑2’s 10 m spatial resolution matches the requirements of nearshore wave models and its semiautomated creation enables monitoring of seabed changes. Where Sentinel‑2 data are unavailable, it is merged with coarser datasets such as GEBCO.
The derived bathymetry is used as high‑resolution input for local wave modelling. MetOcean parameters about wind and wave activity are used for model initialization and forecast, sourced from Copernicus and NOAA. Weather information for the integration on the user interface is provided through WeatherAPI.com.
SpaceSurf also incorporates SatNav positioning to display a user’s location and identify nearby surf spots with favourable conditions.
Current Status
The Feasibility Study was concluded successfully by April 2026. Steps towards a follow-up project are in the progress.
