Team : Grovengers
Member : Lee Jing Jing (BRN) Isabelle Atherton (AUS)
Mentor : Dr. Jong Ahn Chun
Research Title : Data-Driven Framework for Evaluating and Sustaining Mangrove Coastal Defense Systems

Research summary :
Mangrove forests play a crucial role in climate resilience by acting as natural coastal defenses that reduce the impact of floods, storm surges, and erosion. However, many regions continue to face deforestation, urban encroachment, and poor data accessibility when it comes to managing and monitoring mangrove health.

Our project, Grovenger, presents a data-driven framework to evaluate the effectiveness of mangroves in coastal defense and proposes low-cost solutions for sustainable monitoring. We focused on Karumba Point, Australia, as a case study to analyse how mangrove cover correlates with reduced flooding and shoreline stability. By using DEA (Digital Earth Australia) satellite imagery and shoreline mapping tools, we detected periods of regrowth and degradation and linked these to observed flood risk changes.

While mangrove planting is commonly promoted, our research emphasises the importance of long-term health monitoring over one-time planting efforts. To address this, we designed a low-cost sensor system that measures key environmental parameters such as soil salinity, water level, and light intensity, enabling underfunded NGOs or local communities to maintain and evaluate mangrove health in real time.

This project demonstrates how accessible technology and geospatial data can be combined to strengthen environmental decision-making and support community-led conservation. By providing both analysis and a scalable, budget-friendly solution, Grovenger contributes to building more climate-resilient coastlines in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.