Over time, the photos help scientists keep track of changing coastlines. Council marine and coastal scientist Vikki Ambrose said the citizen science approach was a way for the council to monitor changes to the coastline that would otherwise be beyond the council’s scope, as it couldn’t feasibly have staff members gathering the same amount of data. “We can't be out looking all the time,” she said. “We’re asking the community, whenever they're passing one of these posts, just put their phone in and take a photo of the view.” No matter the weather, the tide, or the time, Nelson council is calling for citizen scientists to take standard snapshots using their five new CoastSnap posts along the coast.