As part of efforts to monitor and protect the territory’s coral reefs, a new project aims to model some of them in three dimensions.
The initiative launched in January at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College with a week-long training on “Large Area Imaging,” a method that stitches together thousands of overlapping underwater images to produce detailed digital models.
The training, hosted at HLSCC’s Centre for Applied Marine Studies, was led by Louisiana State University’s Seascape Ecology Laboratory, which is overseen by coral reef ecologist Dan Holstein.
The 11 participants include representatives from HLSCC; the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change; and the National Parks Trust.
‘Game-changing’
Since the training, Laura Arton, marine programme coordinator at HLSCC, has been leading the production of high-resolution digital images depicting three important coral reef sites in the VI, according to the college.
These visual datasets, known as “orthomosaics,” are being analysed for coral coverage, algae proliferation, signs of bleaching, and other indicators of health and resilience.
“Photomosaics offer a game-changing solution for rapidly as sessing changes in our reef health, especially given the limited availability of trained personnel and resources,” said Argel Horton, an environment officer at the ministry. “This initiative is a major step forward in safeguarding our reefs by offering concrete, visual evidence to assess the effectiveness of conservation strategies.”
Other steps
The project is funded by a grant of £42,315 (about $56,000) from the United Kingdom government’s Darwin Plus initiative, and it is supported by Reefs Unknown, a coral-conservation non-governmental organisation based in the United States VI.
Besides the training, the project also involves other steps designed to ensure that CAMS is fully equipped for ongoing reef monitoring: acquiring specialised underwater photography equipment and advanced software licences, developing training modules, and accessing data storage infrastructure, among others.
“Photogrammetry is a powerful tool for marine conservation,” said Susan Zaluski, HLSCC’s director of marine and maritime studies. “But it also has broad applications in other fields. As we develop training modules, we hope to attract students not just from marine sciences, but also from areas like computer science — disciplines that the public may not immediately associate with marine conservation.”
The project is being overseen by a steering committee composed of environmental leaders including Ms. Horton and NPT Director Cassander Titley O’Neal, according to HLSCC.
Project history
The collaboration with Mr. Holstein’s lab was forged last year when his team began mapping the RMS Rhone Marine Park, sparking interest in bringing such technology further into the territory’s reef management strategy.
“That initial visit was a real eye-opener,” Ms. Titley O’Neal said. “We saw the full potential of photogrammetry and are excited to see it being applied to protect even more of our reefs.”
The mapping initiative is also opening doors for community outreach and education, according to HLSCC.
Nia Jeffers, who coordinates the CAMS Coastal Resilience Programme, said the 3D models help make reef science more accessible.
“These models let us vividly show what’s happening to our reefs without anyone having to dive underwater,” she said. “It’s a powerful way to engage students, citizens and decision-makers alike.”
For more information, contact the Department of Marine and Maritime Studies at marine@hlscc.edu.vg or 852-7020.
