The NBS-ENGROSSED project team recently took on an exciting week of field activities in Tobago!
From April 6th through April 13th, Research Assistants, Simone, Fadia and Andrew undertook a series of research and training tasks with experts and key stakeholders alongside Engineering Technicians Alorne, Sharelle and Amrit. Lead Investigator, Dr. Deborah Villarroel-Lamb joined them on site during the week.
Coral Reef Surveys
From Tuesday to Thursday, the diving team, including Andrew and Simone, explored the Eastern and Northern reef platforms of the Buccoo Reef. The divers used two GoPro cameras to capture images of the reef along a 15m transect. These images are being processed to build a 3D model of the reef structure using Agisoft Metashape. Capturing the rugosity (measure of the reef’s structural complexity) using 3D models can empower engineers to make optimal design choices for coastal nature-based solutions involving coral reefs. Check out some of our cool reef pics from the field! No Section Title –
GPS Training for Beach Profiling
While Andrew and Simone were on the reef, Sharelle, Fadia, Alorne and Amrit were in the classroom – alongside course instructor, Mr. Anesh Gopee, facilitating a three-day GPS training course for THA officials. Five participants across the THA were immersed in comprehensive training on beach profile monitoring using Real Time Kinematics (RTK) Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS) technology. This activity not only represented the continued partnership between the THA and the UWI NBS-ENGROSSED project, but also the strengthened capacity of governmental stakeholders in contributing to the sustainable management and protection of Tobago’s coasts. No Column Title – 2502
Wave Drogue Deployment and Water Quality Testing
On Friday and Saturday, most of the team headed back on the reef to deploy wave drogues and do some water quality and sediment sampling. Drogues are floating devices that help us investigate how water moves through an area. They were released during rising and falling tides at set locations in Buccoo Bay, and their paths were tracked using a handheld GPS over 10 to 15 minutes. By comparing their positions over time, we are able to calculate the speed and direction of the currents—giving us a clearer picture of the dynamic flow in the area. The water quality testing and sediment sampling provide critical information on the physical parameters of the reef.
Mangrove Observations
Back on land at Kilgywn Swamp and Bon Accord Lagoon, research assistants Fadia and Simone led a walking survey to map the demarcation of mangrove species.
Commissioning of Video Camera System
Finally, after much anticipation, the entire team was on site to check out our video camera at Pigeon Point beach!
The video camera system was officially commissioned in March 2025.
Collecting wave run-up data is critical to understanding changes in the beach profile, and the interaction of waves on coastal protection structures.
Pigeon Point Beach, which is one of the major tourist destinations in Tobago, has been experiencing increasingly severe coastal erosion and beach flooding, especially during hurricane months.
This data can inform experts, practitioners, and policymakers to make robust decisions in the implementation of Nature-based Solutions for coastal protection.
We have also been capturing video data of wave run-up on Trinidad’s east coast, which is experiencing severe erosion from the high-energy Atlantic Ocean. Read more about that here.
If you are in Tobago, check out the beach camera system; use the camera sign to learn more about this initiative!
