Beach Track vs SCAPE

Beach Track enables you to contribute to one of the world’s largest and most extensive datasets on marine strandings and beach health. Through the app you will be able to log survey tracks around the coast and submit reports of any marine animal carcases or other findings of interest that you encounter. By simply using the app on your beach walks and submitting your track and findings, you will help collect vital information about our coastal environments and survey effort. This information will help improve our understanding of the health of, and threats to marine animals, and in turn help all of us better protect our seas. The app works as your digital assistant as you survey a stretch of the coastline. It will use your mobile phone GPS to track where you are and record searching effort while it also allows you to upload images and log anything you find along the way. Once you have completed a track, it will ask you a few questions about the beach, including how much marine litter you saw. The Beachtrack app was designed by the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS). While the app is globally available, only records submitted in Scotland are verified at present. This might change in the near future as the app gets developed and tailored to other areas of the world.

Natural processes and climate change are putting Scotland’s coastal heritage at risk – but you can help us to manage the threat. The SCAPE coastal archaeology recording app allows you to: • Discover archaeological sites at the coast on the go. • Carry out surveys of known archaeological sites. • Create records about new discoveries. By registering as a volunteer, you can use the coastal archaeology recording app to find out information about coastal archaeological sites near you and to contribute your observations on their condition. You can also add records about your new discoveries of archaeological sites or objects. Your contributions form a valuable record of change to coastal archaeological sites and coastlines. We use your information to prioritise action at the most vulnerable and significant sites - and answer wider questions about where, and how, Scotland’s heritage is being affected by coastal processes and the impacts of climate change. We moderate your submitted records before adding them to the database and publishing them on the website map and the app. You can get more details and see photographs of coastal heritage sites through the Sites at Risk Map portal on the SCAPE website www.scapetrust.org/sites-at-risk/