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The Coastal Processes Research Group (CPRG) at Plymouth University has developed new methodologies, utilising video systems to efficiently monitor and manage the coastal environment. This research has impacted upon coastal managers, mariners, coastal communities, tourists and industries, for example, by reducing the risk of coastal flooding, drowning in rip currents and ships running aground. Algorithms, methodologies and systems developed by the CPRG, trigger appropriate and timely management intervention to protect coastal communities from flooding, instruct dredging operations and effectively manage recreational beach resources.
University of Glasgow expertise in coastal erosion has directly influenced biodiversity policy at local, national and international levels, delivered flood mitigation initiatives in partnership with public agencies in Scotland, and mobilised public support for environmental safeguards to preserve our natural heritage. Dr Jim Hansom has been instrumental in shaping UK environmental strategy to include geodiversity. In Scotland, he has worked with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on flood assessments and the identification of Sites of Special Scientific Interest, helped to establish a charity mobilising community volunteers to monitor Scotland's coastline, and assisted Oxfam to allocate erosion prevention grants to local communities. Hansom's expertise has fed into the polemic protest film You've Been Trumped and a BBC Panorama special, bringing coastal geodiversity and biodiversity issues sharply into focus on a very public stage.
Research carried out by the University of Reading's Martin Bell and Nicholas Branch on previously neglected wetland environments (such as coasts, floodplains and mires) has had impact in two main areas:
1) Heritage management: The work has made a major contribution to the sustainable management of marginal environments in the face of climate change and development pressures. This has directly affected local planning processes, with Bell and Branch's approaches to monitoring and recording adopted as best practice by a range of organisations.
2) Capacity building of geoarchaeology in the commercial sector: The research has enhanced the capability of organisations to respond effectively to the challenges of interpreting European wetland archaeology in advance of development pressures. Knowledge transfer of the research to these commercial units has contributed to sustained economic growth for such organisations.
Professor Mike Philips' research has contributed to understandings of coastal erosion causes, its impacts, mitigation and adaptation strategies. His research and his involvement in numerous policy networks including most notably the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands (GOFCI) has influenced coastal policy discussion and outcomes at a global level. The research has led to coastal tourism and climate change being considered at the highest political level. This is evidenced by Phillips's contribution to international policy documents and processes, such as Rio +20, and wide public and professional recognition.
This case study discusses research performed in Plymouth University that has had a significant impact on practice in estuarine flood risk management. Specifically, some of the research led to a long-term estuarine evolution predictor, and later informed Halcrow and the Exe Estuary Partnership on future evolution of the Exe Estuary under a number of scenarios.
The impact described here relates to a specific example of changes in the management of environmental risk for a coastal management study in the UK, and to changes in the dissemination of coastal management knowledge and experience across Europe. The former involved application of formulae developed by the underpinning research to predict sediment transport rates and shoreline evolution. The latter involved development of the Coastal Wiki, an Internet based professional coastal encyclopaedia. This represents a major new tool for dissemination to policy makers, practitioners, researchers and students.
Human activities and manmade structures can negatively affect bird populations, but previously there was no robust method to quantify the impact. Bournemouth University (BU) researchers have applied extensive behavioural research to develop unique computer modelling techniques to predict how human activities affect coastal birds. These models have provided the evidence-base for coastal management schemes in 35 sites in Europe and one in Australia and include shellfisheries, wind farms, bridges, tidal barrages and nuclear power stations. In England specifically the technique has been applied to 812 km2 (29%) of protected coastal habitat.
With no other alternatives to quantify the risk to birds, this research is truly innovative. The method gives coastal managers the evidence to make informed decisions that weigh up the cost to birds with the benefits to society. This avoids the precautionary principle of banning human activities that are not in fact harming the birds.
Researchers in the Earth Surface Processes and Environmental Change (ESPEC) Research Group have communicated Quaternary geology to user communities explicitly guiding the location of sites for mineral extraction and infrastructure (airports / wind turbines) in terrestrial and offshore environments. This ranges from contract investigations in Wales, English Heritage Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) research in Kent, Sussex and Lancashire to the current NERC BRITICE-CHRONO Consortium. The understanding provided has informed infrastructural and mineral resource planning, aiding mitigation for heritage and environmental assets. Data are embedded in National and Regional Planning (e.g. Welsh Assembly, Lancashire County Council, Natural England, English Heritage).
Coastal dunes are one of the most threatened habitats in Europe, and are in need of urgent conservation. North West Europe is one of the most important areas for vegetated shingle worldwide, and the UK is especially important. The Sand Dune and Shingle Network has helped to change the understanding, policies and practices relating to these habitats in the UK, and in Europe through the creation of knowledge exchange opportunities in a diverse stakeholder environment, by working with and for NGOs. This allows statutory conservation agencies to deliver research, consultancy and policy guidance.
Simon Read is Senior Lecturer in Fine Art and a practising artist specifically engaged in the investigation of interdisciplinary approaches to environmental change, notably estuarine and coastal processes. His research (from which impacts have arisen over two decades) began with a tidal protection installation, explored further through the value of drawing as a tool for imagining change between researchers and coastal communities. This then led to greater involvement with other researchers, public sector bodies and water engineering companies in coastal/estuarine management and mediation, and to further art and design commissions, which together have led to impact on policy and practice via specific engagement with professionals, catchment communities and policymakers.