Naomi Howard - Spatial Coastal Monitoring: Oceanside, CA - MAS CSP 2026 Symposium

Naomi Howard - Spatial Coastal Monitoring: Oceanside, CA - MAS CSP 2026 Symposium

🎙 Naomi Howard 👥 86 📅 June 24, 2026 ⏱ 17 min 👁 28 📄 original study 🧭 2026-08-15
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

coastal dunesnature-based solutionssea level riseiPhone 17ViDoc

Summary

Naomi Howard presents her capstone project on spatial coastal monitoring for climate resilience, focusing on dune restoration in Oceanside, California. She introduces coastal dunes as nature-based solutions, highlighting their role in protecting shorelines and providing habitat. The project addresses gaps in current monitoring practices, which rely on costly and infrequent technologies like truck-mounted lidar. Howard proposes a low-cost, accessible method using an iPhone 17 paired with a ViDoc RTK receiver and the Pix4D Catch app to create 3D point clouds of dune sites. She compares this method with established survey techniques, achieving centimeter-level accuracy. Preliminary findings from weekly surveys show dune development and vegetation growth, but also challenges such as alignment issues and the impact of harbor dredging. The project aims to provide actionable data for local governments and promote citizen science. Howard emphasizes the need for standardized metrics for dune restoration success and community engagement. The presentation concludes with acknowledgments and a Q&A session.

155 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The presentation offers valuable insights into a practical, low-cost method for coastal monitoring, addressing a real need for frequent, site-specific data. The argumentation is solid, supported by preliminary data and comparisons with established technologies. The speaker acknowledges limitations and the need for further validation, which enhances credibility. The value lies in the potential for democratizing coastal monitoring and informing adaptation decisions.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The scientific rigor is adequate for a capstone project, with clear methodology and data collection. Sources cited include the IUCN definition of nature-based solutions, Senate Bill 272, and references to similar projects in Santa Monica and Cardiff. The title accurately reflects the content. The presentation includes a Q&A session, but no comments were provided for analysis.

132 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, focusing on spatial coastal monitoring in Oceanside, CA.

Quality & Reliability

7/10

The presentation is based on original fieldwork and data collection, with clear methodology and preliminary results. However, the sample size is limited and the technology validation is still in early stages, with acknowledged alignment issues.

Key Moments

Cited Sources

  • IUCN Nature-based Solutions — Definition of nature-based solutions
  • Senate Bill 272 — California legislation requiring sea level rise adaptation plans
  • Save Oceanside Sand — Non-profit providing beach profile data

Concurring Sources

Contribution & Novelties

The presentation introduces a novel, low-cost methodology for coastal dune monitoring using consumer-grade technology, making it accessible to non-specialists. This could significantly enhance data collection frequency and spatial coverage, filling gaps left by expensive and infrequent surveys. The approach also promotes citizen science and community engagement.

Pour aller plus loin :

80 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows balanced scores across information quantity, quality, technical level, and reliability, with slightly higher scores in information quality and reliability, indicating a well-structured and credible presentation.

Reliability 7/10