In early November, Research Associate Trinh Ha Linh from the H1-P4 team attended the International Conference on Asian and Pacific Coasts (APAC 2025) in Busan — a leading regional forum bringing together coastal scientists, engineers, policymakers, and practitioners. The conference featured a dynamic exchange of ideas across a wide range of topics, including climate-driven coastal risks, advanced numerical modelling, and practical coastal management solutions implemented across the Asia–Pacific.

CFI’s Executive Director, Professor Adrian Law, served on the International Steering Committee of APAC, contributing to discussions on strengthening regional knowledge-sharing and advancing coastal adaptation strategies.

The H1-P4 team (Project: Enhancements in the Predictions of Sediment Transport around Singapore Coastal Waters) showcased its latest research on Satellite-Derived Shoreline (SDS) assessment in Singapore. The team presented a customised analytical framework tailored for Singapore’s narrow and highly engineered coastlines, offering improved accuracy, scalable shoreline monitoring, and a replicable methodology for other island states and urbanised coastal regions facing comparable geomorphological constraints.

From Linh’s perspective, APAC 2025 provided an invaluable platform to exchange technical insights, compare methodologies, and better understand how different countries are tackling shared coastal challenges. The opportunity to engage with researchers working with a diverse suite of remote-sensing tools — including LiDAR, spectral imaging, and spaceborne data — was particularly enriching for discussions on sediment transport and long-term shoreline detection.

Key Takeaways provided by Linh:

• Remote-sensing technologies are increasingly central to long-term shoreline and sediment transport monitoring.

• Urbanised and engineered coastlines across the region face similar scientific and operational challenges, underscoring the need for shared frameworks and collaboration.

• There is growing momentum toward combining engineering measures with nature-based solutions, supported by robust, data-driven monitoring.

Overall, APAC 2025 was a highly enriching experience that helped strengthen regional connections and reaffirmed the importance of collaborative, science-based approaches to coastal resilience.