Background Information

Soil sampling is a common part of environmental science; in fact, geologists specialize in it and there are total organizations devoted to it. Soil sampling, however useful, it not always the easiest task to conduct. The subject of many studies on soil are lands that should be observed without human interaction, for chemical composition and biological make-up. The moment a scientist steps onto the land to take a sample, the scientist contaminates the area and could ruin the studies and observations associated with that location. The field of soil science is becoming more popular than ever, with researchers struggling to understand soil and how it relates to carbon sequestration, climate change, and greenhouse gases. Environmental concerns such as preserving the biodiversity of the planet are also helping to make soil sciences a booming field of study. For the marine biology aspect of this, there is sand sampling. Sand sampling is taking a small amount of sand that can be described in grain size, color, and composition. Not only useful in physical differences, sand samples also differ in pH levels and chemical compositions. Scientists can use sand sampling to further understand environmental effect on our beaches and bodies of water. Sand samples will tell scientists about pollution and chemicals in our environment, as well as illustrate patterns of erosion.

Sand sampling is an extremely useful way to determine many different facts about our marine environment, however it is also difficult to do for many reasons. For example, many scientists are extremely interested in taking samples of our beaches’ dunes in order to learn how to further preserve them. These scientists cannot walk onto the dunes to procure the sample; this small action will ultimately damage the dunes. Therefore, scientists are faced with a problem- how can they manage to get these soil samples without physically being on the dunes themselves? The quandary also extends to the field of the salt marsh, common to beaches and waterways. The soft, springy earth of the marsh is full of different nutrients and chemicals perfect for studying. Similar to the dunes, the soil marshes are difficult to venture on without damaging organisms. This catch-22 of the scientific world has been swiftly becoming worse for years, but what can scientists do?

The answer lies in the up and coming field of robotics. A robot is defined as “a machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically”, and this is precisely what our robot will do. Using a VEXRobotic kit and outside resources, such as PVC pipes, we will design and construct a robot, which will take soil samples from marshes and dunes without damaging the natural environment and affecting organisms. The robot must be designed with the environment in mind, keeping effects on terrain at a minimum while completing the job of taking the soil sample.

Why should we take such efforts to guard these dunes and marshes? Waterfront developers and homeowners have been fighting dunes for years, damaging them and destroying them for property and aesthetic reasons. They have attempted to replace them with jetties, breakwaters, and sea walls. However, the outcome of the battle between the people and the dune replacements is always the same – with water coming out the undefeated victor. Trying to substitute dunes is both costly and strenuous, as well as being a waste of time. Without the dunes, our beaches will literally wash away before our eyes. Marshes are one of the most valuable ecosystems in the world; they create a perfect area for study and provide coastal areas with many of the nutrients it requires to thrive. Marshes are home to a diverse group of organisms; without the marshes, the organisms may die. The marsh in itself is a scientific marvel, preserving them will allow for studies in the future. Studying the marshes could eventually open a whole new world of scientific studies.

Saving the dunes and marshes of the waterfront environment will affect more than just the organisms that call our beaches home. Scientists will preserve ecosystems that can be studied for years to come, and waterfront homeowners will save their properties from becoming one with the sea. Tourists will return year after year to the protected beaches, and help stimulate coastal economies for as long as they remain. With VEXRobotics, our coastal areas can be studied and further preserved for generations of the present and future to enjoy indefinitely.

Supplemental Images:

a. This soil profile shows the diversity of the ground underneath the fauna above. As you can see, at least four different types of sediment are clearly visible in this environment.

URL: http://www.terrapsych.com/soilhorizons.gif

b. This is an image of a beach which has been stripped of it's natural dunes. The sharp, clifflike drop which can be observed throughout the photo is an example of extreme erosion which is caused from lack of dune grass (causing lack of dunes). If left unattended, this beach will eventually wash away.
URL: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/media/collections/cede/cedelsvi15.jpg

c. This is another example of an extremely eroded beach due to  lack of dune grass. The dune grass could have been poisoned by chemicals, a tragedy which could easily be prevented by soil/sand sampling.
URL: http://kanat.jsc.vsc.edu/student/davis/images/erodeddune.jpg

d. Here is an image of soil samples arranged by physical means. Soil samples obtained by a VEXRobot could easily be sorted by either physical or chemical means.
URL: http://www.desert.com/petroweb/images/thumb/spp3_sands_composite.jpg

e. This man is taking a soil sample of a nearby river, somewhat similar to a marsh. As you can see, without the help of robotics, this is a inefficient procedure. Robotics would take the same sample, with less damage to the environment.
URL: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5127/5307219979_c9197d10d0.jpg

f. This is an image of a healthy, protected dune; something our VEXRobot is hoping to preserve.
URL: http://www.uwec.edu/jolhm/Superior2007/TeamD/frontside%20healthy%20dune.jpg

g. Here is an image of the different key features, threats, and management priorities of a salt marsh. As you can see, a major threat is erosion, something which can be prevented with the use of VEXRobotics for sampling.
URL: http://ian.umces.edu/loicz/marsh_ecosystems.png

h. Here, you can see salt marsh erosion.
URL: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNf-66vk4extWkVKrzvKLXWhIZMVxkq3zN7ADcU91NINR_KSFyc7eZD5c-cc2u9M_B_PXyoJRCufgNrvQw59bQIyeZbPO5ew7NMylcEy0gWZz3IC1gku5WHX4Y3EjaX-yVmuSX_pefO8/s1600/Marine+Park+-+Fragmenting+Salt+Marsh+4-763756.JPG

i. Here are some examples of different VEXRobots.
URL: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4d98eKprtGZZkWiYzKAcao5r8fWteI7yjj1qLhHvuw4MxNGSfHERk8ImlDnPGzEyrszd6QwpCeWhzNpfjDNuzV0JSMsA2NNS07GrSEG9UhuyOCi4fRqfJ4LSj9ldyFCquJ67lf_7BLw/s400/vex_robotics.jpg

j. Here are some PVC pipes, which we will add to our VEXRobot to help it obtain soil samples.
URL: http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-page-main/ehow/images/a07/2s/le/cut-pvc-pipe-lengthwise-800x800.jpg

Posted in: Background Information