Students bring a fresh perspective to CoastSnap project.
Photo L to R – Hao Jin Tan - HDC Climate Adaption Planner; Kate McNaught (sitting), Natasha Wigley (standing), Jorja Roulston (sitting), Adrian France, Noah O’Malley, Dr. Sophie Horton, Lecturer - University of Canterbury, School of Earth and Environment.
We’re always excited to collaborate with groups who bring a fresh perspective to the work we do - especially when it relates to our iconic coastline.
A group of five students from the School of Earth and Environment at University of Canterbury presented the results from their GEOG309 course project to Council staff last week, after spending 12 weeks reviewing data from the CoastSnap stands that Council installed a number of years ago. CoastSnap is a global citizen-science initiative, where communities take photos of their local beaches to help document coastal changes.
CoastSnap stands were installed at Leithfield, Amberley and Motunau Beaches, alongside Gore Bay to encourage public participation to monitor changes in our coastlines. Jorja, Noah, Kate, Tasha and Adrian - the students working on the project - had some great ideas to make the photos more reliable. They shortened and improved the instructions at the stands to improve readability, suggested improved positions for the stands. The group also identified that ground control points (fixed points at each site) would help future analysis of photos to detect changes like erosion and even cliff retreat.
Course Lead Dr. Sophie Horton commented ”Our students’ work doesn’t just give the Hurunui District Council a greater understanding of climate resilience and adaptation – they’ve also given the Hurunui community a rewarding way to be involved with monitoring changes in their coastlines.”
Find out more about CoastSnap and how the Hurunui District Council is addressing coastal change by visiting https://www.hurunui.govt.nz/environment/coastal-conversations-in-the-hurunui
