SPITFIRE Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) Research Experience Placement

Project 2015

Lead Supervisor:

Dr Joel Smethurst

Email:

jas@soton.ac.uk

University/Research Organisation:

UoS

Department:

Faculty of Engineering and Environment

Project Title:

Coastal landslides on the Isle of Wight

Total Student Support Costs:

2500

Proposed Start Date: 29 June 2015

Proposed End Date: 04 September 2015

Project Summary
The Faculty of Engineering and Environment has been investigating coastal erosion on the Southwest coast of the Isle of Wight, including looking at coastal processes, and the response of the cliffs
to continued erosion by the sea. In several places, the cliffs have collapsed in large landslides, and
some work has already been carried out to understand the geomorphology (shape and form) of the
landslides, and to explain why the cliffs failed in the way that they did. This forms part of a wider
model that seeks to predict how the coastline may evolve in the future, particularly under a
changing climate.
The project will involve:
(i)
Taking field measurements of landslide movements using differential GPS, and
considering the new readings in the context of some existing moment data, to help
explain the nature of the slides (note: parts of the landslide move several metres in a
year);
(ii)
The landslides are influenced by slightly weaker bands of soil within the cliff. Samples
of the soil will be collected during fieldwork and analysed using simple engineering
characterisations and mineralogical tests in the lab, to help explain why they might
provide a preferential band for sliding.
(iii)
Consideration of how results from the above may influence an existing conceptual
/numerical model for landslide.
The project will be supervised by Dr Joel Smethurst, and Dr Max Barton, both from the Faculty of
Engineering and Environment at UoS. Support with some laboratory tests will be provided by Dr
Richard Pierce at NOC.
Appropriate technician support for fieldwork, including transport to the site, will be provided.

The project provides an opportunity to enhance skills relating to planning of fieldwork (including
health and safety aspects), design, planning and execution of laboratory experiments, and analysis
of environmental data sets.

Timescale for the students work over the length of the project:

Two field visits to monitor landslide movement using DGPS, and analysis of results (2 weeks)
Soil sampling in the field, laboratory tests at NOC and Highfield; including some work to
plan and prepare lab tests, and analyse the results (4 weeks)
Work to understand how the new knowledge gained above might fit within the existing
conceptual model for the landslide formation and development (2 weeks)
Writing a short research report to detail findings (2 weeks)

Proposed procedure for appointing students, including selection criteria:

Broad knowledge of geology and or geomorpic processes would be helpful but is not essential.