Dean of Postgraduate Research
Vice-Chancellor’s Office
Extension: 7285
Email:
lucy.johnston@canterbury.ac.nz
Summer Research Scholarship Scheme
2014-2015
Project Application Form
Please complete and submit the application form as a WORD document and send to
summerscholarships@canterbury.ac.nz
The Project
Title of Project (max 30 words):
Developing real-time methodologies for measuring the aerial dispersal of forest insects
Project Leader(s):
Graeme Woodward, Kelvin Barnsdale
Host Department/Organization:
Wireless Research & Spatial Engineering Research Centres (WRC & SERC)
Other persons involved in this topic/activity:
(List other significant members involved along with their affiliation to the research project.)
Name
Affiliation to project
Stephen Pawson (Scion)
Co-supervisor of student
Brief outline of project
Describe the proposed research project – maximum of 400 words (box will expand as you type).
Note that this information will be published on the web in order to attract student applicants and therefore be
mindful of any Intellectual Property issues
Understanding the dispersal capabilities of insect pests in forests is critical to modelling their abundance and
distribution within the landscape. For some insects it is possible to monitor flight activity using mark-recapture
methods where large numbers of individuals are released and then recaptured throughout the landscape
using a trapping network. However, for other species it is not practical to breed sufficient individuals for
experimentation. This project hopes to develop a method for tracking individual large forest insects through
plantation forests to monitor their flight patterns. The scholarship will allow a student to investigate potential
opportunities for monitoring the dispersal of individual insects using either passive or active surveillance
technologies, e.g., RFID, passive radar, image processing, behaviour modelling, trapping, etc
The student will be expected to present a report of potential approaches and to advance at least one of the
most promising approaches to such a point where there is a broad understanding of its capabilities and
limitations when trialled in a real-world field situation.
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If the project involves work away from the University campus (e.g., at fieldwork sites) please detail all locations.
The project will involve some fieldwork in plantation forests near Christchurch. For such trips a student will be
accompanied by a Scion representative.
If the student be required to work outside of normal university hours (8am-5pm) please provide details
Most work should be within standard working hours. The student will be required to accompany a Scion
employee to collect insect study organisms at night using light traps.
Benefits student will gain from involvement in the project
Describe the research experience and skills that the student will acquire through involvement in this research project –
maximum of 100 words.
The student will acquire skills and experience in wireless positioning techniques, passive detection systems
and ultra lightweight transmitters, along with real world engineering challenges of wildlife and insect
monitoring and undertaking field work as part of a scientific investigation. The student will also gain an
appreciation of the environmental and economic impact of insects pests in NZ and the importance of control
measures.
Specific student requirements
Please provide details of all requirements you have for the student to work on this project – for example, if specific
courses/experience are necessary.
As all field work will be guided by Scion staff members, there are very few physical limitations. The student
should be willing to undertake scientific measurements and field work in an outdoor natural environment,
including possibly at night (under supervision). Academically, an interest and some knowledge of wireless
technology principles such as antennas, signal detection and radar would be an advantage.
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