probably a lot of it was spent on sea level gauges.
these high tech devices look like stairs, and function like stairs.
they probably used it to build 'monitoring stations' right next to the 'sea level gauges'.
these monitoring stations look just like sea-side villas, so that the blend in.
and evey day the 'monitors' go down the 'sea level gauge' and see if the ocean is higher or lower.
depending on the tide and time of day it might be higher, or it might be lower.