Visualising Sea-Level Rise at a Coastal Heritage Site: Participatory Process and Creative Communication

Abstract

This paper describes a research project that aimed to translate complex spatial and scientific data about coastal change into accessible digital formats for general audiences. The project used fine-scale remote sensing techniques including airborne and terrestrial laser scanning to produce spatially accurate and realistic 3D digital visualisations of projected sea level rise at Cotehele Quay, a site on the River Tamar in Cornwall owned and managed by the National Trust. Area residents and stakeholders were involved in a series of focus groups which provided guidance on the integration of the spatial models into a short film. The paper focuses on how the participatory, iterative process adopted in the project shaped the content and design of the film. The paper concludes with a discussion of how this process enhanced the viability of the film as a communication tool for use in wider engagement activities.

Keywords:

• Terrestrial laser scanning
• heritage
• sea-level rise
• community engagement
• multi-media

Acknowledgements

Funding for this project was provided by the European Social Fund and the National Trust. The authors would like to thank the staff and volunteers at Cotehele for their support of the research, in particular the General Manager and Head Warden. Thanks are also due to the participants in the working group and focus groups meetings, and to those who contributed to training (in the development of the model and film, 3D MSI and PixelRain, and in facilitation of focus groups, Vinesworks). The authors also wish to thank two anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments.