New App to Maintain Social Distancing in UK Beaches After Bournemouth Incident

This app aims to help control overcrowding and maintain social distancing on UK’s beaches.

An app, industrialised by Xpertnest, a UK, Europe, and India based multinational digital innovation company, has been unveiled by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Tourism in the UK, allowing visitors to check which of its beaches are the least congested and keep safe.

Could such an app help crowd control in India as well?

A national level major incident had been declared in Bournemouth after thousands of people descended on the area’s beaches as temperatures soared back in June this year. This social distancing app has been brought in response to that, so that such incidents can be avoided in the future.

Could such an app help crowd control in India as well?

Arun Kar, Co-Founder of Xpertnest says that they are keen to work with the Indian government and are willing to launch similar products in India. The Indian coastline is one of the largest in the world. A similar app can provide a sizeable opportunity for both governments to keep a check on Covid cases, while people enjoy the beach side with intervention of technology.

‘’Innovation is not technology, innovation is utility,” he said.

Chintan Panara, the other Co-Founder of Xpertnest, expressed, ‘’More than the technology, it’s the impact that we make on lives across the globe is what matters to us most.’’

How it Works

In addition to showing how busy each beach area is, the app provides handy information on the beach lifeguard status, whether toilets are open, information on bylaws for cycling along the promenade, and exercising your dog. This means that in the long term, the app is more than just a solution to help with social distancing.

Data for the app is provided via a number of sources, including seafront rangers, CCTV and some footfall counters. App data is supplied by a mix of sources. At the start of the day, a prediction is set for each zone, based on previous data, factoring in the date and weather to show how busy each zone will be. From mid-morning, the Seafront Ranger team will update each section on a regular basis to reflect any changes in congestion observed.

The app has a live traffic light system, which uses the latest technology to help visitors and residents alike to avoid busy hotspots. The simple-to-use app is free to download and available now from Google Play and the Apple App Store.

It allows the user to check a particular beach or see a map indicating the busier areas (red), less busy beaches (amber) and those with plenty of available space (green). Crucially, the app allows visitors to make informed choices as to which parts of the beach to visit and which to avoid in order to maintain social distance during the coronavirus epidemic.

The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council (BCP Council) began working with Xpertnest on the innovative app project in late April. The app has been developed in a bid to promote safety as the country eases from the Covid-19 lockdown.

Xpertnest is an official member of Forbes Business Council and Finalists of SME National Business Awards2020 (United Kingdom) in Business Innovation Category.