Research Opportunity at Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (2021)
Below are some images from my research experience along with a brief description of my contributions to various projects
Embedded Files
Conducting GPS survey and setting ground control targets on Goodluck Point. June, 2021
Elevation change maps comparing before dredging (BD) and after dredging surveys (AD). Product of cut/fill volumetric analysis. (Click to download)
Building turbidity sensors powered by solar panels and Arduino microcontrollers to monitor sediment levels and other geomorphic changes. August 2021
DSAS shoreline change analysis for Goodluck Point during the 18-month monitoring period. (Click to download)
Constructing watertight buoys with holes for turbidity sensors to take measurements when deployed. June 2021.
Orthomosaic imagery from November 2020 (BD), March 2021 (3-Month AD) and May 2022 (18-Month AD). Red dashed box indicates visible seaward shoreline positions compared with November 2020 survey. (Click to download)
Research opportunity and project description:
I was fortunate to land a research opportunity with my former GIS professor, Dr. Daniel Barone, in the summer and fall of 2021. The research was done through the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT). I assisted Dr. Barone in a number of dredging related assessments that were presented to the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT).
One project involved mapping and monitoring the geomorphic changes of an estuarine beach on Goodluck Point after dredged materials from nearby waterways had been placed nearshore. Dr. Barone and I organized and conducted a series of GPS, hydro, and drone surveys to track the movement of sediments along the shore. I personally collected GPS points using an RTK receiver and had the points automatically uploaded to a web map using Collector for ArcGIS. I also set up ground control targets for aerial surveys. After field collection, I merged data from all 3 surveys to create orthomosaic, digital elevation, and 3D models of the beach. I used the GPS and hydro survey data to identify the shoreline at different time periods. After delineating the different shorelines, a shoreline change analysis was conducted with ArcMap's DSAS package. Dr. Barone and I were able to calculate areas of accretion and erosion on the beach over an 18-month period. We were also able to conduct a cut and fill volumetric analysis to measure the elevation and buildup of sediments nearshore.
Another project I was involved in was designing and constructing turbidity sensors encased in watertight buoys for a dredging assessment near Atlantic City. The goal was to build 10 sensor-buoys that could be deployed in the water and have them report live turbidity readings to an online dashboard. To build the turbidity sensors, I first designed an electronic schematic to keep the wiring configuration organized. The sensors were powered by solar panels that sat on top of the buoys and were programmed to take readings at specified intervals using an Arduino microcontroller. The sensor setup also included a GPS chip to track the location of the buoys. To construct the buoys, I cut PVC pipes, drilled holes for the sensors, and sealed any gaps to prevent water from reaching the sensor inside. I lastly calibrated the sensors and programmed them to take readings using basic Arduino scripts. The buoys were successfully deployed at the end of my research opportunity.
Software and tools used: Collector for ArcGIS, ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap - DSAS Package, Drone2Map, Pix4D, Arduino, Drones, GPS receivers
Credit: Dr. Daniel Barone, Dr. Robert Miskewitz, and Andrew Dang who were all involved in these various projects at different stages
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