Recent Stories
- Geography student sets up film company
- Eco-innovation businesses invited to attend pioneering project launch
- First Science and Technology Business Partnerships and Enterprise Annual Report 2011-2012 available to download now
- Lancaster University Coffeemat Challenge won by Science and Technology student Seb
- Competition finalists to present at the House of Commons
- Free talks from Lancaster University statisticians
- Doctoral Scholarships in Computer Science and Communication Systems
- Soil expert seeks effective management of revolutionary land use changes
- International Collaboration Prize for First Unified EU-Russia Flight Analysis Project
- 'Making Sense of Microposts' Workshop Accepted for WWW2013
University Research Cameras Capture Stricken Vessel
Story supplied by LU Press Office
The stricken ferry Riverdance off Cleveleys
Cameras installed as part of a Lancaster University research project have captured images of the stricken ferry Riverdance which was run aground just off Blackpool.
The ferry was stranded on a sand bank at Cleveleys, after being hit by a freak wave according to the crew on Thursday, January 31.
Photographs of the vessel were captured using ARGUS video cameras which automatically take images every 30 minutes during daylight.
The cameras - installed as part of an ongoing project between the University, Wyre Borough Council and Deltares (previously Delft Hydraulics) - are monitoring the beach changes in the front of a new seawall in Cleveleys.
Researchers are particularly interested in the shifting sandbanks - exactly like the one hit by the Riverdance.
Dr Suzana Ilic of Lancaster University's Geography Department said: "The fact that a ridge had formed on the beach stopped the ship from running into the seawall.
The Fylde coast has beaches made up of ridges or sand bars and runnels- channels running parallel to the shore. We are studying their formation and evolution as sediment is moved around by looking at time-lapse images. This is important for navigation purposes, beach stability, water quality, swimming safety.
From the images taken every 30min during the daylight and additional information concerning the rise and fall of the sea surface due to tides and waves we can derive the changing shape of the beach surface also know as 'topography contours'. This can be used to produce computer models of the beach that can provide valuable information to coastal managers."
The first study of sand ridges on Blackpool beach was made in preparation for the D-day landings on the Normandy beaches which are similar to Blackpool beach.
Fri 08 February 2008
Associated Links
- Geography Department - The Geography Department's home page
- Lancaster Environment Centre - Innovation, training and research for a sustainable future
- WL Argus Image Archive: Cleveleys - part of a project between Lancaster University, Wyre Borough Council and Deltares (previously Delft Hydraulics) monitoring beach changes in front of a new seawall in Cleveleys, Lancashire
Latest News
Geography student sets up film company
It is well known that Geography graduates are highly employable and use their degrees in many different ways. One of the more unusual we have heard about recently is Lancaster geographer Greg Tomaszewicz who has set up his own Video Production Company - Lanor Productions.
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Fri 22 February 2013
Eco-innovation businesses invited to attend pioneering project launch
Ambitious North West SMEs keen to drive forward eco-innovative ideas and products are invited to a major event in Manchester on March 4.
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Thu 21 February 2013
First Science and Technology Business Partnerships and Enterprise Annual Report 2011-2012 available to download now
2011-2012 saw the development of a new theme-based strategy for Business Partnerships and Enterprise in Science and Technology. The seven interdisciplinary themes are: Advanced Manufacturing, Energy, Environment, Health and Human Development, Information and Communication Technologies, Quantum Technology and Security. Each theme has dedicated professional staff to work with businesses and source the expertise they need.
Tue 19 February 2013
Lancaster University Coffeemat Challenge won by Science and Technology student Seb
The concept of a new university website, complete with mobile application, to capture the campus social scene at a glance, earned an enterprising student an iPad.
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Tue 19 February 2013