The COSMO Program (Coastal Monitoring Program) is an initiative developed and implemented by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) since 2018. It is designed to provide an integrated and systematic approach to coastal zone monitoring along mainland Portugal.
The program focuses on the acquisition of standardized geospatial data covering key coastal features, including beaches, dunes, cliffs, and the nearshore. Data collection is carried out using aerial, terrestrial, and maritime platforms, with priority given to areas identified as highly vulnerable or at elevated risk to people and assets.
The collected datasets undergo rigorous processing and analysis by specialized teams in disciplines such as topographic engineering, geospatial engineering, hydrography, coastal geology, and geotechnics. This ensures the production of high-quality, scientifically robust information that supports coastal management, risk assessment, and decision-making processes.
All monitoring data and derived geospatial products are made freely available to registered users through the official platform, promoting transparency, knowledge sharing, and informed coastal governance.
We are collecting detailed information on beaches, dunes, and coastal cliffs to improve understanding of shoreline behavior and evolution. This knowledge supports the optimization of risk management strategies, particularly those related to coastal erosion and cliff instability.
The data generated by the COSMO Program are essential to support timely and informed decision-making in the coastal zone, specifically:
- Planning and spatial management of coastal areas;
- Design, scheduling, and performance evaluation of coastal protection and defense interventions;
- Identification of current issues and enhancement of predictive capabilities to anticipate future challenges along the shoreline;
- Understanding the impacts of climate change, particularly sea-level rise and its consequences for the coastal zone.
Access to the data is granted upon user registration. After registering, users can search through the “Geovisualizer” or the “Survey Typology” section, depending on the type of monitoring required.
Search filters can be applied by location and/or date range.
Access is free and universal.
Use and Citation of COSMO Data
The data provided under the Coastal Monitoring Program for Mainland Portugal (COSMO) are the property of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and are intended to support and promote research, planning, management, and scientific or technical dissemination activities related to the coastal zone.
Source Citation
Use of these data requires proper attribution of their origin in any form of dissemination, publication, or work—whether academic, scientific, technical, or professional.
Please use the following reference:
Portuguese Environment Agency. Coastal Monitoring Program for Mainland Portugal (COSMO) [year of access]
Data Integrity
It is not permitted to alter, manipulate, or misrepresent the data in a way that may lead to misunderstanding. Any processing or adaptation must be clearly identified.
User Responsibility
The user is responsible for the use of the data and for any conclusions drawn from them. APA assumes no responsibility for interpretations or decisions based on the provided data.
Legal Notice
Use of the data implies full acceptance of these conditions. Failure to comply with citation rules or misuse of the data may constitute a violation of applicable legislation, including copyright law, public sector information reuse regulations (Decree-Law No. 2/2025), and intellectual property rights, and may result in civil and/or administrative liability.