The idea for SwimSmart was born during a Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium (GLWSC) conference in Sheboygan Wisconsin in 2017. A group of Michigan Technological University (MTU) engineering students working within a student-led engineering team, Strategic Education Through Naval Systems Experience (SENSE), based out of MTU's Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) focusing on Navy and Marine applications began working on a remote controller life ring in 2016.
While presenting this new life life ring concept to the Consortium in 2017, the group of students attended the duration of the conference. While many Great Lakes water safety challenges were discussed, one presentation focused on the woes of the beach flag warning system. The beach flag warning system is a method of communicating swim hazards using a cloth flag hoisted on a flagpole visible to beachgoers. The logistical nightmare of maintaining a flag system quickly burdened communities with a demanding yet important method of public notification. Beach warning flag systems are used all around the country and necessitate changes in color sometimes multiple times a day to remain accurate. The logistical challenge would create situations where the flag is not changed often or fast enough to keep up with unpredictable weather conditions. If the flag does not appropriately reflect water conditions it can cause a potentially dangerous situation for swimmers. However, due to the logistical requirements flags would be foreword looking; meaning, the flag would indicate conditions sometime in the future rather than any given moment in time. While the flag may indicate conditions in the future, the preceding time may be inaccurate and cause swimmers to disbelieve whether such a warning is legitimate. In other situations the flag may be far more conservative than necessary. Worse yet, the flag could be forgotten or neglected resulting in life threatening events.
This gave rise to the electronic beach traffic light. At first, concepts focused on a mechanical flag changing system, however, it quickly settled on a LED-based visual warning system. The electronic traffic light connected to the internet through a cellular modem and could receive basic commands. Connecting the light to the internet allowed for remote changes of the beach warning light from beach managers all but eliminating the logistical burden of traditional flag-based systems. However, it was understood that not only was the logistics of changing the flag a problem; but the accuracy of such a warning is equally important. Once the lights were connected to the internet it allowed for means of automatically setting light colors without human intervention. This is especially prevalent in remote beaches where no staff are present to gauge conditions. This brought early versions of the National Weather Service SRF autonomy feature allowing the device to change according to NWS updates within that local area. The electronic system brought with it massive reduction in logistical burden and a dramatic increase in accuracy and reduced "lag-time" where a traditional system would fall behind. While there are certainly continous improvements that can be made, the base system was born.
SwimSmart Technology LLC was formed in 2020 and has grown each year to continue its mission to prevent drowning in our communities. The safety system has morphed into different verticals, shapes, and sizes - however, the fundamental problems being solved are the same. We work hard to create unique and innovative technological solutions to modern day beach safety and management problems. By bringing all relevant stakeholders together (Weather Service, Lifeguards, Beach Managers, Health Departments, Risk Managers, First Responders, at Local, State and Federal levels and more) we are able to multiply the usefulness and efficacy of a broadly wrapped safety package. We hold yearly feedback and collaboration sessions with these stakeholders from around the country to help guide this vision and leave no stone unturned. Technological innovation will be the driver that brings these unique and diverse stakeholders together under a common umbrella to solve public safety, resource management, and a myriad of other complex problems. Technology development is a rapid snowball process that can revolutionize old ways overnight. We hope to be good stewards in beginning the long technological journey the world of water safety will experience from hereon out. While we recognize that technology won't be able to solve all problems; it will prove to be a powerful multiplicative force in empowering these diverse stakeholders to provide a beach that is operating more effectively and efficiently than ever before.
While our core team is still small we work with a myriad of supporters, contractors, collaborators and other partners, from private industry to government and passionate individuals, that multiply our efforts.
SwimSmart partners with the Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium (GLWSC), who has supported our efforts since our launch. The GLWSC is the nonprofit community connecting and serving safety experts & water enthusiasts, educating the public on safer ways to enjoy the water, and encouraging leaders to take steps to make their beaches safer, including innovations like ours.
SwimSmart encourages all Great Lakes communities, residents, and visitors to join the GLWSC. By working together, we are far more effective in improving the safety of our beaches. If your organization is interested in partnering with SwimSmart please contact support@swimsmarttech.com.
