Smart Beach Light at Station Beach | Municipality of Kincardine

Smart Beach Light System

A Smarter Way to Enjoy the Beach

The Municipality of Kincardine is proud to be the first community in Canada to bring Smart Beach technology from research into a real-world waterfront setting.

Located at Station Beach, the Smart Beach Light is a real-time beach warning system that uses a simple green, yellow, and red signal to communicate current water conditions and help beachgoers make informed decisions before entering the water.

Powered by SwimSmart technology and nearshore modelling from the University of Waterloo, the solar-powered system transforms complex environmental data into clear, easy-to-understand information for residents and visitors.

The Smart Beach Light is located at the main beach entrance from the parking lot on the beach side. Please refer to the map below for its exact location.

Beachgoers are encouraged to check the signal before entering the water and throughout their visit. Check the Lights. Then Decide.

Research in Progress

The University of Waterloo is currently conducting research at Station Beach to evaluate the effectiveness of the Smart Beach Light hazard warning system. Learn more below.

Participate in the Study

Real-time beach warning system

The system integrates multiple real-time data sources, including:

Offshore wave and buoy data
Wind speed and direction
Water and current conditions
Nearshore modelling outputs developed by the University of Waterloo

This data is processed through a predictive model and translated into a clear, public-facing signal.

Swim Conditions Lights

Red – High Hazard: Exercise Extreme Caution
Yellow – Medium Hazard: Exercise Increased Caution
Green – Low Hazard: Does Not mean No Hazard

The absence of lights does not indicate safe conditions.

Check the Lights. Then Decide.

Beach users are responsible for their own safety at all times. Think of the Smart Beach Light as one tool to help you understand conditions and decide what’s safe based on your own comfort and ability. Remember: low hazard does not mean no hazard.

Check often - conditions change

The Smart Beach Light system is meant to support awareness. Conditions can change quickly. Check the sign often during your visit.

Always check the Smart Beach Light before entering the water and follow posted safety signage
Check again throughout your visit
Don’t assume! Conditions can change quickly

Where the System Applies

The Smart Beach Light reflects conditions within the main public swimming area of Station Beach, Kincardine, from the no swim zone to the southern public beach access points.

Where the system applies

South Pier

200m No Swim Zone

The jetty area (southern pier) is always considered dangerous for swimming, regardless of the signal displayed. There is a 200 meter no swimming zone to the south of the south pier.

University of Waterloo Research Study

The Municipality of Kincardine is partnering with researchers from the University of Waterloo to evaluate the Smart Beach Light system at Station Beach and better understand how beach visitors respond to hazard warnings. The research will help identify opportunities to improve beach safety, public education, and future warning systems.

Help Improve Beach Safety — Share Your Experience

Visitors to Station Beach are invited to participate in a voluntary, anonymous online survey about their experience at the beach and the Smart Beach Light warning system.

The survey takes approximately 10–15 minutes to complete and asks questions about:

Whether the hazard warnings reflected your observations of beach conditions.
Whether the warning system influenced your behaviour or the behaviour of others.
Suggestions for improving beach safety and future visits.

All Station Beach visitors are eligible to participate. Participants are asked to answer the questions based on their most recent beach visit.

Take the survey: Complete the University of Waterloo Smart Beach Survey

Beach User Behaviour Monitoring

As part of the study, researchers will monitor beach user activity from July through September by collecting hourly images during daylight hours. The images will be used to estimate the number of people on the beach and in the water and to better understand how visitors respond to hazard warnings.

To protect privacy:

Faces will be blurred in images.
Images will only be used for counting purposes.
Images will be deleted after counting is complete.
Images will not be shared publicly.

Only individuals within approximately 20 metres of the camera will be clearly visible. If you do not wish for your likeness to be captured, please move outside this area.

Questions About the Study?

For more information about the research, please contact:

Dr. Alex Smith
University of Waterloo
a229smith@uwaterloo.ca

Participate in the Study Seeking Participants for Research poster Beach User Behavior Monitoring poster

Frequently Asked Questions

The Smart Beach Light is designed to support safer decision-making at the waterfront. Below are answers to frequently asked questions to help you understand how to use the system and what to expect.

What is the Smart Beach Program?

Smart Beach is a research and innovation program focused on improving beach safety through data, technology, and public education.

The program brings together municipalities, researchers, and technology partners to:

Monitor lake and weather conditions in real time
Predict nearshore waves and currents
Communicate potential hazards to beach users
Study how people respond to safety information

The current phase of the program is supported through research funding and partnerships with the University of Waterloo and other Great Lakes communities.

What is the Smart Beach Light at Station Beach?

The Smart Beach Light system is a real-time beach condition display that shows current waterfront safety conditions at Station Beach using a simple green, yellow, red indicator system.

It is designed to help beachgoers understand general water conditions before entering the water.

How does the system work?

The system uses a combination of real-time environmental data, including wind, wave, and current conditions, which are processed through a predictive model developed in partnership with the University of Waterloo.

That information is translated into a simple colour-coded display on the Beach Warning Light (FlashBoard system) powered by SwimSmart technologies.

What do the colours mean?

Green – Low Hazard: Conditions are generally calmer, but users should still exercise normal caution.
Yellow – Medium Hazard: Conditions may include stronger waves, winds, or currents. Extra caution is advised.
Red – High Hazard: Dangerous conditions. Swimming is not recommended.

Important: Low hazard does not mean no hazard. Conditions can change quickly.

Does Green mean it is safe to swim?

No. Green does not mean “no risk” or “safe conditions.” It means lower hazard conditions relative to other states.

Water conditions can change quickly and unexpectedly.

Is there a lifeguard on duty?

No. Station Beach is not supervised by lifeguards. All beach users enter the water at their own risk.

Is the Smart Beach Light solar powered?

Yes. The system is powered by solar energy and is designed to operate throughout the day without relying on the electrical grid.

What hours is the system active?

Once fully operational, the Smart Beach Light is active daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The light will be off overnight. No Light = Warning System Not Active

Will the system be active right away after installation?

No. After installation in early May, there will be an initial calibration period of approximately two weeks. During this time, the system will be tested and adjusted and should not be relied upon for swimming decisions. The sign will be covered or marked “Testing in Progress” until it is fully operational.

Can I rely on the sign instead of checking conditions myself?

The sign is one tool to help understand general conditions, but it should not replace personal judgment.

Beach users should always assess conditions themselves before entering the water.

Why is this system being installed?

The system is part of a broader Smart Beach research and safety initiative aimed at improving public awareness of changing water conditions and reducing preventable water-related incidents.

Who is responsible for safety at the beach?

Beach users are responsible for their own safety at all times. Parents and caregivers are responsible for supervising children.

What happens if the system is not working?

The system is monitored, but temporary outages may occur. No Light = Warning System Not Active

Is the data accurate in real time?

The system uses real-time data and predictive modelling; however, lake conditions are dynamic and can change rapidly between updates.

Contact the Project Team

Mike Di Giovanni
Manager, Parks and Facilities
Municipality of Kincardine
519-396-3491 x 7315

Guy Gallant
Fire Chief, Stations 11 &12
Municipality of Kincardine
519-396-3468 x 7158

Legal Disclaimer

The real-time dynamic beach warning system is intended to provide some information to users of the waterfront area. Beach and water conditions can change quickly and beach users are responsible for their own personal safety at all times.

The Municipality of Kincardine assumes no responsibility for any injury, loss, harm or damage to persons or property resulting from the use of the beach / waterfront area. At all times, users enter the water at their own discretion and peril.