Overtopping wave monitoring system

National Highway No. 42, which runs along the coast of the southern Kii Peninsula, has been frequently subject to traffic restrictions such as alternating one-way traffic and traffic closure at the Nishimukai District of Koza-cho, when this region is struck by typhoons or low-pressure systems and cobble stones borne by overtopping waves are dumped on the road surface.

In order to ensure safe driving during the early stage of overtopping waves and to allow traffic restrictions to be issued without delay when overtopping becomes serious, accurate prediction and swift detection of overtopping waves is essential. Therefore, a system is being used at this district which automatically detects overtopping waves by processing images captured with CCTV cameras and uses step-type wave gauges provided along the highway for improving the accuracy of overtopping detection. In addition, using wave data obtained offshore of Nishimukai, overtopping waves is predicted so that traffic restrictions can be issued at the proper time.

[Kinan Public Works Office of the Kinki Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport]