A new research partnership between Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW), supported by the joint Seed Fund 2024 call, will study how climate change and human activity are transforming Chile’s central coastlines.
Rising sea levels, intensifying waves, and changing sediment patterns threaten coastal ecosystems and communities. The research team will combine UNSW’s advanced satellite mapping technology with local on-site measurements to improve coastal erosion monitoring, particularly near river estuaries. Focusing on four critical coastal sites in Chile, researchers will test and refine InletTracker, a digital tool designed to predict shoreline changes. This collaboration will generate crucial data to help protect vulnerable coastal areas from extreme weather events and seismic activity.
The UC interdisciplinary team will be led by Professors Rodrigo Cienfuegos, Megan Williams, and Cristián Escauriaza, from the Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, along with Professor Carolina Martínez from the Institute of Geography.
