Principal Investigator: Andrew Wheeler, Host: University College Cork (UCC)

Project Title: Bedrock mapping of the offshore Irish coastal and shelf regions through standard and semi-automated techniques

Project Description: This projects aims to (i) use machine learning techniques (FCNNs) to separate sediment cover from bedrock outcrops thus delineating the mappable areas, and discriminate bedrock bedrock into different morphotypes. (ii) The bedrock morphotypes will be further characterised coupling semi-automated geomorphometry techniques with manual supervision, quality control and classification. Results will include a classification of the bedrock at stratigraphic Group level, major structural elements and allowing for the construction of simple cross sections. (iii) Links to onshore geology mapping will be attempted with measuremenets of confidence included in the mapping.

Principal Investigator:Niamh Cullen, Host: Dublin City University (DCU)

Project Title: Estimating shoreline recession rates for coastal hard cliffs using time-series elevation data

Project Description: This proposed research will (i) quantify cliff recession at different temporal and spatial scales using Persistent Scatterer Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (PS-InSAR) and Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry and (ii) perform numerical analysis of the main factors driving coastal cliff erosion at selected sites through characterisation of rock mass properties and process-based modelling.