Below is the list of Marine related funded projects as part of the 2015 GSI Short Call. To read about all projects funded under this call click here.
Project Description: This project will produce a hard copy pocket guide to coastal geology and landscapes of the Wild Atlantic Way. It will include maps showing locations of places of interest, photographs and informative text treating coastal landscapes from a perspective of bedrock and Quaternary geology and environmental processes that shaped them.
Project Description: This project will develop a coastal infrastructure GIS for Ireland using open source Map Server technology. GIS data and metadata will be collated, standardised and quality checked. New mapping will be performed to fill the gaps and will be based on interpretation of available aerial photographs and field visits.
Project Description: The Irish Sea has one of Europe's best offshore renewable energy sources. Current vagaries about the geological conditions may significantly impact offshore infrastructural development. The ISSMaNOF project aims to utilise extensive geophysical and geological data gathered by INFOMAR to generate value-added mapping products within the context of offshore foundation feasibility.
Project Description: This project is a collaboration between Maynooth University and the GSI. Remote sensing image processing algoritjms will be applied to multi-resolution imagery in the development of a methodology for bathymetric mapping. The suitability of imagery captured by Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Light Aircraft and Satellites will be assessed in these tests.
Lead Applicant: Mr Ronan O'Toole | Host: Greenlight Surveys
Project Title: UAV for intertidal and coastal zone mapping feasbility study
Project Description: Recent advances in UAV technology, mean that a novel approach for addressing coastal and intertidal zone mapping may now be feasible. This short call project aims to determine the feasibility of using UAVs for coastal mapping and will address the operational parameters and procedures, processing techniques and regulatory issues which must be constrained prior to deployment of this technology in a dedicated coastal mapping role.
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Lead Applicant: Mr Gearoid O'Riain | Host: Compass Informatics
Project Title: Development of a coastal infrastructure web GIS with remote sensing focus
Project Description: The project will deliver an open-source WebGIS that will reuse existing tools in use in Compass Informatics and in geoscience organisations. This will be populated with coastal infrastructure data and remote sensing imagery including Sentinel data, along with selected imagery analysis data products.
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Lead Applicant: Dr James Riordan | Host: Sonarsim
Project Title: A hydrography training program demonstrator
Project Description: This project will leverage SonarSim's existing Hydrographic Survey Simulation infrastructure to create the learning content for a small-scale programme demonstrator which will showcase our innovative task based approach to competency based training. The long strategic objective is the establishment of an Irish Centre of Excellence in Hydrography Training.
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Lead Applicant: Dr Aggeliki Georgoipoulou | Host: University College Dublin
Project Title: Frequency of slope collapses on Rockall Bank and mechanical characterisation of the sediments
Project Description: This project seeks to understand what makes the sediments at the easter slope of Rockall Bank so prone to instability and also how frequent these slide events are. A set of sediment cores, collected during the SORBEH expedition from water depths of 700-2000m, are goint to be used.
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Lead Applicant: Dr Colman Gallagher | Host: University College Dublin
Project Title: Quantifying coastal evolution along Donegal Bay system using remote sensing approaches
Project Description: This project examins the impacts of changing sediment supply, rising sea level and climate change on coastal dune stability, determining relationships between shoreline change rates, beach/dune morphodynamics and near-shore/offshore sediment availability and pathways in Donegal Bay. The research pilots the possible development of an integrated national-scale model of coastal change.
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Lead Applicant: Prof Debra Laefer | Host: University College Dublin
Project Title: Coastal modelling through low-cost video-based photogrammetry
Project Description: Coastal modelling through low-cost video-based photogrammetry will develop a rapid, low-cost means to monitor changes along coastal areas and river networks. The overall goal is to develop an online system for submitting video imagery that is then processed as a series of still images for improved documentation.
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Lead Applicant: Prof Dan Toal | Host: University of Limerick
Project Title: Unmanned surface vehicle for inshore bathymetric survey
Project Description: This project addresses the need of GSI to carry out seabed survey in in-shore shallow areas, which cannot readily be completed with normal survey vessel because of draft / safety concerns. The project will develop a USV control system to enable (semi) autonomous operation of survey in these shallows.
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Lead Applicant: Prof Dan Toal | Host: University of Limerick
Project Title: Semi-autonomous UAV landing in challenging conditions
Project Description: This project deals with UAV landing in Challenging Condition" and is focused on the development of pilot support tools for operations of take-off and landing from a moving platform. The goal is to develop a reliable control platform to aid the pilot and to provide a level of semi-autonomous operation.
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Lead Applicant: Dr Audrey Morley | Host: NUI, Galway
Project Title: Deposition and accumulation of microplastics and pollutants in marine sediments from the Irish continental shelf
Project Description: The shannon delivers a high sediment load west of the Aran Islands, providing habitat for Nephrops but also sources of pollution including microplastics and heavy metals. Here we are developing a method to identify microplastics and heavy metals deposited in marine sediments for an economically and ecologically important fishing ground.
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Lead Applicant: Dr Mary Bourke | Host: Trinity College Dublin
Project Title: Investigation of Ireland's coastal platforms: location, type and coastal protection
Project Description: Shore platforms are a significant component of Ireland's coastal systems and have the potential to buffer coasts from storm wave hazards. This project will map the distribution of shore platforms and conduct a pilot study to investigate the role that platforms have in the effective attenuation of wave energy.
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Lead Applicant: Mr Gavin DUffy | Host: Realsim
Project Title: 3D simulation of Ireland's 'Ancient East' marine environment
Project Description: RealSim will build an interactive 3d simulation of Ireland's 'Ancient East' seabed and adjacent coastline stretching from Carlingford Lough to Waterford Harbour. The simulated environment will be populated with some of the worlds oldest lighthouses and numerous shipwrecks from WW I. The projects intention is to bring awareness to Ireland's rich marine heritage.
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Lead Applicant: Dr Sara Benetti | Host: University of Ulster
Project Title: Past and modern environments of Galway Bay (GB-ENV)
Project Description: A multi-disciplinary investigation into the elements that have shaped Galway Bay since the last glaciation to the present day. Sedimentological and geophysical data will be combined to produce geomorphological and stratigraphic maps; sediment cores will provide specific clues on how the sedimentary and oceanic processes have altered the bay over time.
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Lead Applicant: Dr Mary Bourke | Host: Trinity College Dublin
Project Title: Innovative approaches to identifying and mapping coastal landslides
Project Description: Landslide data bases are required for the assessment of susceptibility and understanding of risk. Landslide inventories are a time and resource-intensive activity. This project will explore the use of machine learning algorithms and drone technology to enable a more accurate mapping and inventory-building capability for coastal landslides.
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Lead Applicant: Prof Dermot Diamond | Host: Dublin City University
Project Title: Mapping the spatial and temporal variations of water quality in Dublin Bay
Project Description: This project aims to generate real-time information on water column variables occurring in Dublin Bay using in-situ sensor measurements. Data generate will be used in tandem with remote (including satellite) sensing data that will ultimately provide the information to inform predictive models on events happening within the water body.
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