First recipient of CodaOctopus Prize at Cardiff University

The new CodaOctopus Prize has been awarded for the first time. The recipient is Katie Abbott, BSc who receives the award for her Marine Geography dissertation, which included data acquisition, processing and critical analysis. As part of the Marine Geography degree at Cardiff University, Ms Abbott undertook a year’s industrial placement as a hydrographic surveyor with Gardline Surveys. Whilst working on numerous survey projects she gained practical experience acquiring and analysing survey data and report writing. Since opening earlier this year, the CodaOctopus Research Laboratory at Cardiff University has been the centre for a series of deployments using Octopus sidescan sonar and seismic systems on research projects in Milford Haven, Jersey, the Isle of Wight, the Bristol Channel and Swansea Bay. Surveys have been carried out for purposes of habitat mapping and conservation, tidal energy, navigation and coastal stability. The University's Research capability into modelling of the seabed, science-based evidence for environmental management and the identification of sites for tidal energy has been assisted by the collaboration with CodaOctopus.