Geography

Consultancy

River and Coastal Environments Research (RACER)

RACER comprises a team of fluvial and coastal geomorphologists operating within the Department of Geography, University of Portsmouth. The University has much experience in administering and participating in research and consultancy and has specially devoted units for project management and administration at both University and Faculty levels.

Established in 1988, the RACER group has a long record of research and consultancy covering both natural processes and landforms as well as in developing the management applications of such knowledge.

The group specialises in geomorphological studies covering topics such as historical changes, sediment inputs, sediment transport, sediment budgets, morphological conservation, impacts of protection schemes, advice and policy assessment on management solutions, monitoring, information gathering and database construction.

It has a team of consultants with:

  • renowned expertise in fluvial and coastal geomorphology
  • wide experience in applying geomorphology in commercial consultancy
  • broad experience in the successful management and delivery of research
  • extensive IT, laboratory and field resources
  • understanding of the requirements of major agencies, Government Departments and local authorities through close collaboration.

Projects and Past Experience

Past Projects have ranged in scale from detailed investigations of particular problems to large-scale strategic studies. Especially important have been the influential studies undertaken for SCOPAC since 1989 and covering such key topics as sediment transport and budgets, littoral cell identification, impacts of sea-level rise, the provision of tidal and sea-level information, as well as policy advice.

Several important studies have been undertaken for MAFF (now Defra) at national level. Major projects have also been undertaken on fluvial geomorphology for the Environment Agency and conservation bodies.

Fundamental in all work has been the translation of geomorphological principles and process understanding to provide clear guidance for coastal and fluvial managers.

Our underlying philosophy is to study processes, landforms and geomorphological systems over a range of time and spatial scales to identify their characteristic behaviour as a prelude to advising on management.

A full list of projects undertaken is provided in Table 1.

Coastal and Fluvial Process and Geomorphological Capabilities

The following specific geomorphological capabilities of the team are relevant and have been applied in many of the projects

  • Collection and syntheses of available information (scoping studies, reviews)
  • Organisation and presentation of information (database construction, mapping and GIS), e.g. SCOPAC database.
  • Monitoring of morphology: profile and erosion recession measurements to generate 3-D digital terrain models and volumetric calculations of landform changes (data acquisition by analytical or digital photogrammetry and field survey, including GPS).
  • Historical beach and cliff evolution on the coast and channel planform changes and meander evolution on rivers (aerial photographs, historic maps, document searches).
  • Field mapping and interpretation of morphological and sedimentary features - especially valuable where long-term monitoring and past data not available.
  • Sediment budget analysis (conceptual and quantitative models of sediment inputs, fluxes, stores and sinks).
  • Littoral drift, flow and process measurements - including tracer studies, traps and historical estimates based on morphological change.
  • Prediction: landform sensitivity and response to change.
  • Climate change impacts, e.g. SCOPAC sea-level rise project; hydrological analyses.
  • Coast and River Protection Schemes - monitoring and evaluation of their direct and wider impacts.
  • Flood risks - precise contouring below the 5m OD contour (photogrammetry) coupled with the analysis of tidal information and surge conditions and flood characteristics.
  • Sites of special geological and geomorphological interest: identification of key qualities, sustaining processes, site users, appropriate management options and conservation strategies.
  • Evaluation of geomorphologically sound management alternatives in different physical settings, including evaluation of managed retreat and river restoration.
  • Training and Assistance - RACER have experience in convening workshops, professional seminars, courses and conferences on various themes including: Sea-level Rise, Earth Science Conservation and Coastal Defence, Approaches to Coastal Management.