An open source, low cost video-based coastal monitoring system

A low cost, automated, remote monitoring video system built on standard commercial off‐the‐shelf (COTS) components and implemented with open source software is presented. The system has been implemented in a coastal area to perform image acquisition and processing, generating statistical products and transferring the information from the field to a central node where post‐processing and data visualization are made available to the general public. The open structure of the software allows the user to implement new routines and modules appropriate to fit specific needs as well as to adapt the system to study other dynamical processes where continuous observation is required. The software and image data base can be obtained as freeware. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.