Students from the COAST and GMS Master’s programmes recently participated in the SATSHORE field school, organized within the TRACE Climate framework in the Rhône Delta. The programme combines classroom learning with fieldwork, allowing students to develop practical skills in coastal geomorphology and shoreline monitoring.
During the training, participants learned how to identify shoreline positions using satellite imagery and geospatial tools. These interpretations were then validated directly in the field through observations and DGPS surveys along the deltaic coastline. The exercise allowed students to compare remote sensing results with real coastal conditions and better understand the limitations and strengths of different monitoring methods.
The field school also introduced key concepts of coastal geomorphology. Students examined sediment transport processes, dune and berm dynamics, overwash events, and the role of rock armouring structures in shaping coastal behaviour. Observations made along the Rhône delta shoreline helped illustrate how natural processes and human interventions interact in dynamic coastal environments.
Beyond technical training, the programme encouraged collaboration between students from different academic backgrounds, promoting knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary learning. The Rhône delta provides an ideal natural laboratory for studying coastal evolution and the impacts of climate variability on shoreline systems.
A photo gallery from the field activities is available below.
