Open data in
ReefBeacon ingests openly available oceanographic data and runs transparent quality checks.
ReefBeacon
Early warning for Hong Kong's coral reefs.
The problem
Corals live close to their thermal limits. When the sea stays unusually warm for weeks — a marine heatwave — corals expel the algae they depend on and bleach. Hong Kong's reefs are small but precious, and a few hot weeks can decide their fate. The earlier stress is detected, the more effectively scientists and volunteers can respond.
What ReefBeacon does
ReefBeacon watches the sea so people can act in time. It tracks sea temperature and heat-stress indicators across Hong Kong waters, detects marine heatwave conditions as they develop, and turns them into clear maps, dashboards and alerts. It also supports coral surveys with AI-assisted photo analysis, making field work faster and more consistent.
How it works
AI analysis
Models turn raw measurements into heat-stress indicators, bleaching-risk signals and long-term trends.
Clear outputs
Maps, dashboards and alerts are designed to be understood at a glance — by scientists and non-scientists alike.
Field connection
Survey photo tools help diving teams and researchers document reef conditions before, during and after heat stress.
Status & roadmap
ReefBeacon is in active development and operates in pilot form across Hong Kong waters. Next, we are expanding data coverage, deepening automated analysis, and hardening the system for long-term, unattended operation.
Open source
We build in the open. Code and documentation live on GitHub.