WaveDepth: Water Depth

WaveDepth is an experimental tool for estimating near-shore water depth using phone video. The app tracks a floating ball in recorded footage and analyzes how the wave motion changes as the ball moves through different positions near shore. Using the ball’s known diameter, camera geometry, phone orientation data, and wave-shoaling physics, the app estimates wave amplitude, period, distance, and water depth. Features: • Record a floating ball near the shoreline • Register the ball’s real diameter for scale • Track the ball’s motion from video • Estimate wave amplitude and period • Use shoaling behavior to estimate relative water depth • Correct measurements for phone pitch and roll when sensor data is available • View estimated depth results with confidence indicators • Continue without tilt correction if sensors are unavailable WaveDepth is designed for educational, experimental, and field-observation use. It is not a certified surveying, navigation, or marine safety tool. Results can be affected by camera angle, water clarity, lighting, wave conditions, ball visibility, calibration accuracy, and shoreline environment. Use WaveDepth to explore whether phone video and wave physics can help estimate shallow-water depth near shore.