Field Trip

Building Resilient Coastal Communities at Matagorda Bay–A Geoscientist without Borders© Initiative (SEG/AAPG)

Saturday, 23 August | 8:00 a.m.– 6:00 p.m.  | Departs from and returns to George R. Brown Convention Center.

Sponsored by the SEG & AAPG

The Texas coast, with valuable recreational, industrial, and ecological resources, faces critical threats from land loss due to subsidence and erosion. Matagorda County, with 36,225 residents, has been heavily impacted by storms and rapid erosion (approx. 1 m/year on the ocean side). Coastal erosion, especially on barrier islands like Matagorda, poses serious risks as these islands protect against hurricanes, storms, and sea level rise highlighting the need for focused research to inform coastal resilience and habitat stability. Understanding sediment transport is essential for erosion mitigation; sediment lost offshore is often irretrievable, while accumulation in bays supports island nourishment and sustainable land growth. The project is using near surface geophysical methods such as GEM-2 to carry out EM surveys and moored instruments for offshore explorations to aid in habitat management activities.

Field trip participants will have a one-hour introduction to the project at the George R. Brown Convention Center describing the goal and approach of the project, how to take measurements, and logistics for the field work. The attendees will be transported to Matagorda Beach to participate in geophysical data acquisition and demonstrations with moored equipment. Attendees will later return to the convention center to visualize the data acquired and understand from previous engagements how the data is processed to aid in the visualization and quantification of sediment transport and ground water quality.

This project addresses UN-SDGs: 4, 6, 11, 14 and 17

Co-Leaders

Guest Speakers

Trip Leader(s)

IMAGE attendees who are interested in learning about factors affecting coastal resiliency, water quality, and habitat stability in the Matagorda Bay estuarine and barrier island environments using near-surface methods and geophysical imaging and moored instruments to monitor both subsurface and bay water quality.

To gain an understanding of the applied geosciences in humanitarian context on how to prevent sediment erosion and saltwater intrusion for habitat management and building the shoreline community’s resilience by working with the implementing university, government agencies, and community organization(s).

TBD

Transportation to the starting point is not included in the cost of this trip. Temperatures can range from 70°- 95°F with high humidity. Please wear comfortable clothing. Long sleeves and pants are required. Hats, sunglasses, bug spray, and sunscreen are recommended. Closed-toed shoes are required for this trip.

• Before purchasing non-refundable airline tickets, confirm that the trip will take place as trips may be canceled if undersubscribed.
• Please register well before 16 July 2025. Field trip cancelation due to low enrollment will be accompanied by full payment. considered at this time. No refunds will be allowed on field trips after this date.
• Field trips are limited in size and are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis and must be must be accompanied by full payment.
• If you do not plan on attending the convention, a U.S. $35 enrollment fee will be added to the field trip fee. This fee may be applied toward registration if you decide to attend the convention at a later date.
• A wait list is automatically created if a field trip sells out. The IMAGE registration team will notify you if space becomes available.
• Registrations will continue to be processed for field trips that are not cancelled up until they are sold out or closed.
• Prior to the field trip you will receive an itinerary with details of meeting points, transportation with the trip phone numbers and email addresses of hotels and trip leaders, etc.
• Proper clothing and supplies are needed for the outdoors (hat, windbreaker, sturdy footwear and backpack).
• Depending on location, temperatures can range from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity. Participants are advised to check local weather forecasts for the latest updates.
• Insect repellant and sun protection (sunscreen and hats) are recommended.
• IMAGE, the sponsoring organizations, field trip leaders, and their employers do not maintain insurance covering illness or injury for individuals.

Fee:

$250

30

0.5 CEU

Ground transportation, boxed lunch, refreshments, and introduction to projects, geophysical equipment and field work.

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