A world first, local surfing conditions prediction system; working with granular Met Office and ESA satellite data to predict upcoming favourable surfing conditions based upon the user's previous surf successes.
Funded by the European Space Agency, SeaUrchin is a phone app and watch companion to track your surfing exercises and help you plan ahead for those times you'll need to be "a little bit late for work".
Providing useful improvement feedback and recommendations as well as detailed session stats including number of waves ridden, ride direction, heart rate and many more in an easy to understand interface.
The Challenge
Create a comprehensive surf tracking and prediction platform that could process and analyse some of the most complex data sets known to man—the weather. The system needed to:
- Integrate Met Office weather data with ESA satellite feeds in real-time
- Track surfing sessions with precise wave counting and ride analysis
- Work seamlessly across phone and smartwatch platforms
- Predict favourable conditions personalised to each user's surf history
- Operate reliably in challenging coastal and marine environments
- Meet the strict security protocols required for ESA and Met Office data access
In Collaboration with ESA
SeaUrchin was funded through the European Space Agency's business applications programme. The ESA partnership provided access to high-resolution satellite data for ocean and atmospheric conditions, enabling a level of prediction accuracy previously unavailable to consumer applications.
The Skills Needed for the Project
UX and Design
Full UX and design of both phone and watch app interfaces. Creating an intuitive experience that surfers could use with wet hands, in bright sunlight, and while juggling a board and wetsuit. The watch interface needed to be readable at a glance mid-session.
Mobile App Development
Complete iOS and Android phone and watch app build. Native development for both platforms ensuring smooth performance, reliable GPS tracking, and seamless synchronisation between phone and wearable devices.
Machine Learning
Data consumption and model development for one of the most complex data sets known to man: the weather. Our ML pipeline processed Met Office forecasts, ESA satellite data, and historical surf session outcomes to generate personalised condition predictions.
Data Integration
Secure integration with ESA satellite feeds and Met Office APIs, meeting strict data handling protocols required by government and space agency partners. Building reliable data pipelines that could process high-volume environmental data in real-time.
The Solution
We designed and built a comprehensive surf tracking ecosystem that brings together wearable technology, machine learning, and space-grade data to help surfers catch more waves.
The platform includes:
- Session tracking: Detailed stats including wave count, ride direction, distance covered, and heart rate throughout your session
- Personalised predictions: ML-powered forecasts that learn from your successful sessions to predict when conditions will be right for your style of surfing
- Real-time conditions: Wave height, swell period, wind speed and direction, and tide data from ESA satellites and Met Office feeds
- Watch companion: Glanceable session controls and stats that work even with wet hands and glare
- Progress tracking: Historical session data and improvement recommendations based on your surf history
- Nearby buoy data: Live readings from coastal monitoring stations for hyper-local accuracy
The system was designed to help surfers stop missing the good waves—giving them the confidence to know when it's worth being "a little bit late for work".
Results
Never work with animals, children OR THE SEA!!! We can succeed in the face of very strict requirements from the likes of an actual space agency in order to use their satellite data as well as strict security protocols from the Met Office.
The Actually Team
Key Takeaways
Complex Data Doesn't Mean Complex UX
Weather prediction involves enormously complex data from multiple sources. Our job was to translate that complexity into something a surfer can understand at a glance—even with saltwater in their eyes.
Wearable Apps Need Special Consideration
Designing for a smartwatch in an active outdoor environment is completely different from desktop or even phone UX. Limited screen real estate, wet interactions, and bright sunlight all informed our design decisions.
Enterprise-Grade Security for Consumer Apps
Working with ESA and Met Office data meant meeting government-level security requirements. This experience shows we can handle sensitive data integrations for any client, regardless of industry.
ML Can Be Practical, Not Just Hype
Machine learning isn't just a buzzword here—it's the core of a genuinely useful feature. By learning from each user's successful sessions, predictions become more accurate and more personal over time.
Building a mobile app with complex data integration?
From wearables to weather APIs to machine learning—we've proven we can handle the complexity. Let's talk about your next project.
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