The Strengthening Sea Level Monitoring and Data Management in East Africa for Coastal Resilience and Community Safety Technical Training – SEAMARCS is a five-day technical capacity development course designed to strengthen national and regional capabilities in sea-level observation, data management, and applied sea-level science within the Sub-Saharan Africa and South West Indian Ocean (SWIO) region

The course aims to provide participants with practical and theoretical knowledge required to install, operate and maintain tide gauge stations contributing to the Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS). Core content includes:

1. Sea-level measurement technologies, station installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting
2. Data telemetry and operational data exchange with the IOC Sea Level Station Monitoring Facility (SLSMF) and other international data centres
3. Sea-level data processing, quality control (including automated QC using the IOC SLSMF API), tidal analysis and interpretation
4. Fundamental sea-level science, including tides, surges, seiches, tsunamis, sea-level rise, and vertical land motion
5. Practical field exercises, including a site visit to operational tide gauge stations and basic surveying and levelling techniques (optical and GNSS).
6. The training targets technicians, hydrographers, surveyors, and early-career oceanographers who are directly involved in water level observations and data analysis, with an emphasis on hands-on learning and operational problem-solving in a real-world context.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Strengthening Sea Level Monitoring and Data Management in East Africa for Coastal Resilience and Community Safety Technical Training – SEAMARCS, participants will be able to:

 Identify and describe the main sea-level measurement technologies used in GLOSS tide gauge stations and explain their operational strengths and limitations.

• Configure and manage data telemetry systems to enable timely transmission of sea-level data from national stations to the IOC Sea Level Station Monitoring Facility (SLSMF) and other relevant international data centres.
• Apply standard sea-level data processing and quality control procedures, including the use of automated quality control tools and the IOC SLSMF API.
• Interpret sea-level time series (mareograms) to identify and distinguish physical phenomena such as tides, seiches, storm surges, tsunamis, and longer-term sea-level variability.
• Perform basic tidal analysis and explain the concept and use of tidal datums in hydrographic, oceanographic, and maritime applications.
• Explain the role of vertical land motion and site stability in sea-level observations and integrate levelling and GNSS information into station assessments.
• Demonstrate practical field skills through site visits and hands-on exercises, including basic surveying and inspection of operational tide gauge infrastructure.

Course content

The training will support the subsequent installation of SEAMARCS tide gauge stations at locations in Kenya, Mozambique, Madagascar and Seychelle. The training will strengthen the technical and operational capacities of personnel responsible for sea-level monitoring systems and associated data management in participating countries. The training will provide both theoretical and practical knowledge on tide gauge operation, calibration, maintenance, quality control and data management.

The training combines theoretical lectures, practical exercises, system demonstrations, and a field visit to ensure participants gain applied operational skills in sea-level observation and data management.

1. Introduction and Regional Context

• Overview of the GLOSS and its role within IOC programmes
• Network reports and experience-sharing by participating Member States
• Regional sea-level monitoring challenges and priorities in the Indian Ocean region

2. Sea-Level Measurement Technologies

• Overview of sea-level measurement principles
• Types of tide gauges and sensors used in GLOSS stations
• Strengths, limitations, and suitability of different technologies for operational monitoring

3. Tide Gauge Installation, Operation, and Maintenance

• Anatomy and components of a tide gauge station
• Installation requirements and best practices
• Routine maintenance procedures and operational checks
• Troubleshooting common technical problems affecting station performance

4. Data Telemetry and International Data Exchange

• Data transmission systems and telemetry options
• Establishing and maintaining data delivery links with the IOC Sea Level Station Monitoring Facility (SLSMF)
• Overview of other international and GLOSS sea-level data centres
• Practical troubleshooting session to establish or improve data links

5. Sea-Level Data Processing and Quality Control

• Introduction to sea-level data formats and processing workflows
• Manual and automated quality control procedures
• Use of the IOC SLSMF API for automated quality control
• Practical exercises using real sea-level datasets
• Tidal analysis using TTide

6. Sea-Level Science and Data Interpretation

• Interpretation of mareograms and sea-level records
• Identification of physical processes affecting sea level, including:
• Tides
• Seiches
• Storm surges
• Tsunamis
• Sea-level rise and variability
• Overview of tidal analysis methods and tidal datums

7. Vertical Land Motion and Site Stability

• Concepts of vertical land motion (VLM) and its impact on sea-level observations
• Theory of levelling methods (optical levelling and GNSS)
• Integration of GNSS and levelling data with sea-level observations
• Overview of GNSS and VLM data centres supporting sea-level monitoring

8. Practical Field Activities

• Site visit to an operational tide gauge station
• Hands-on inspection of station components and surroundings
• Basic surveying and levelling exercises in the field
• Application of learned concepts in a real operational environment

Target audience 

The training is intended for professionals from IOC Member States in Sub-Saharan Africa and SWIO region who are currently involved, or expected to be involved, in sea-level observation and data management activities. Specifically, the target audience includes:

• Technicians responsible for the operation and maintenance of tide gauge stations including the prospective SEAMARCS stations
• Hydrographers and surveyors working with coastal and water level measurements
• Data analysts involved in processing and quality control of sea-level data
• Early-career or entry-level oceanographers engaged in sea-level or coastal observation programmes

Participants are typically affiliated with national oceanographic, hydrographic, or maritime institutions contributing, or planning to contribute, sea-level data to IOC systems such as GLOSS and the IOC Sea Level Station Monitoring Facility (SLSMF).

Prerequisites

• No prior specialised knowledge of tides or advanced sea-level science is required
• Basic understanding of oceanographic or tidal concepts is desirable
• Basic computer skills are required, including the ability to work with digital data and software tools
• Some familiarity with water level data processing requirements or operational measurement environments is expected
• Willingness and ability to participate in hands-on fieldwork, including a site visit to a tide gauge station and basic survey exercises

Selection Criteria

Professional relevance

• Candidates must be currently involved, or expected to be involved, in sea‑level observation, tide gauge operation, or water‑level data analysis within a national oceanographic, hydrographic, or maritime institution

 Institutional role and applicability

 Priority is given to nominees whose responsibilities allow them to directly apply the training outcomes to the operation, maintenance, or data management of tide gauge stations contributing to GLOSS and IOC systems

 Regional eligibility

• Applicants have been selected from countries which are in the scope of the SEAMARCS project and a follow-on project.

 Basic computer skills

• Some familiarity with water‑level data processing or measurement environments
• An ability to participate fully in hands‑on technical and field activities

 Language proficiency

• Sufficient working knowledge of English, as the training will be conducted entirely in English

Commitment to full participation

• Availability to attend the entire onsite training period (29 June – 03 July 2026), including practical sessions and the site visit
• Gender and geographic balance (where applicable)
• Selection may take into account equitable geographic representation and gender balance, in line with IOC capacity development principles

Course language: English

Instructors

• Angela Hibbert
• Jeff Pugh
• Francisco Hernandez
• Sinibaldo Canhanga

Duration: 37 hours - 5 days onsite

Learner assessment

Written and oral assessments throughout the training course

Certificate

After completing the written and oral assessment, and the feedback survey, a certificate will be provided.

Technology requirements

Participants should be able to:

• Use a personal computer confidently, including basic operating system functions (file management, installing or running software, connecting to networks)
• Work with digital datasets, including opening, viewing, and managing sea-level or time‑series data files
• Use common productivity software, such as spreadsheets and document viewers, to review, organize, and inspect data outputs
• Access and use web-based platforms and online tools, including browser-based data portals and APIs demonstrated during the training (e.g. IOC Sea Level Station Monitoring Facility tools)

Technical Skills:

• Basic knowledge of water level data processing requirements, sufficient to follow instruction on data quality control and analysis workflows
• Familiarity with digital communication and data transmission concepts, supporting understanding of telemetry and data exchange with international data centres

Willingness and ability to engage in hands-on technical sessions, including practical exercises using IOC tools, APIs, and real sea-level dataset

Venue

Hotel Tivoli Maputo, Av. 25 Setembro, nº 1321

340 Maputo, Moçambique

Organisers

• Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO‑IOC)’s Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS)
  Ex-employees of the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), United Kingdom
• Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)
• UNESCO‑IOC Project Office for IODE (Ostend, Belgium)

Contacts

For course organization, please contact: Angela Hibbert (course organiser)

For additional questions, please contact OTGA Secretariat (ioc.training@unesco.org) always using the name of the course as e-mail subject.

Cancellation policy

In the event of cancellation of the course by the OTGA or its affiliates, we will provide notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date. In the event of cancellation by the attendee, we should receive notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date.