Students involved in community environment program

20-September-2002

Remote Sensing students from the University of Wollongong are involved in a community environment program at the wetland area near Port Kembla known as Tom Thumb Lagoon. Dr Nicholas Gill and Dr Laurie Chisholm, of the School of Geosciences, have two classes undertaking projects at the wetland site in collaboration with Conservation Volunteers Australia and Friends of Tom Thumb Lagoon.

One subject is environmental management from a social science perspective and the other is remote sensing and biophysical assessment (eg water quality, urban space, soil content, vegetation mapping, and subsurface drainage).

Tomorrow (Saturday 21 September) the Remote Sensing students will be working at the Tom Thumb Lagoon site. A local company, Air Target Services, will be taking an airborne image over the site and providing free high-resolution imagery for the students to use for their projects.

The students' research will play a pivotal role in providing baseline information useful for future monitoring which will assist practical management at the site.

Media please note: The best time for photo/filming would be from 10am-1pm at the Tom Thumb Lagoon venue at the corner of Tom Thumb Road and Springhill Road, Coniston (just under the railway bridge crossing over Springhill Road and adjacent to Greenhouse Park).

Further information: Contact Dr Laurie Chisholm on 4221 3765 or Dr Nicholas Gill on 4221 4165.