The Coastal & Watershed Analytics Lab is a research team led by Dr. Natalie Nelson in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. We characterize and model nonpoint source pollution in inland and coastal waters, and take a watershed-scale approach to studying where and why nonpoint source pollution occurs. Studies in the lab fall under three focus areas: (1) Resilient and Future-Ready Coasts, (2) Integrated Inland-Coastal Water Management, and (3) Documenting Pollution at the Source. Examples of questions motivating our projects include:
How are food production systems (i.e., agriculture and mariculture) influencing, and influenced by, surface water quality?
How are ongoing and projected changes in freshwater and sea level affecting surface water quality, aquatic species, and infrastructure?
How can we couple models (statistical, machine learning, process-based) and environmental monitoring datasets to create decision-support tools and products, like forecasts, for water and coastal resource managers?
Most of our projects use data science methods by analyzing and synthesizing environmental data produced with a range of methods, including via satellite imagery, in situ sampling and sensing, and geospatial modeling. We also lead field studies involving in situ sampling and high-frequency sensing to fill gaps in existing monitoring programs.
In addition to research, we educate students in the engineering, agricultural, and life sciences on the appropriate use and interpretation of data analytics and models, as well as principles of coding and applied data analysis.