Geomatics
Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG), located at the Annapolis Valley Campus, has over 20 years of coastal mapping research experience. Using high-resolution remote sensing, such as topo-bathymetric lidar, combined with geographic information system (GIS) techniques, AGRG maps, monitors and models coastal zones with an emphasis on flood risk, erosion and habitat mapping.
Led by Dr. Tim Webster, AGRG applies advanced mapping techniques to solve problems and support sustainable development in the coastal zone and aquaculture sites, including flood risk associated with storm surges and sea level rise and modelling contaminants in the coastal zone.
AGRG also conducts watershed and hydrological studies of inland river systems. Watershed and river hydrology benefit from their high-resolution elevation mapping capabilities, both on land and below the water.
Projects
News
- NSCC researchers predicted areas that could get hit hard by Hurricane Fiona's storm surge. They were right.
- With Hurricane Fiona on its way, this interactive map can help you assess the risk of coastal flooding
- Using lidar to map kelp beds off Cape Breton
- How sea-level rise could sever a vital transport link in Canada
Topographic-bathymetric lidar sensor
NSCC is the only Canadian academic institution with a lidar system. This technology offers a unique method to take a detailed survey of the nearshore coastal zone up to 15 meters in depth in clear water. The sensor is mounted in an aircraft and uses lasers to measure the precise elevation of the earth’s terrain across the land-sea boundary. It's high level of accuracy and rich data products makes it ideal for environmental monitoring and charting nearshore hazards for navigation.