The Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP) organized a Technical Workshop on Coastal Marine Geology on 11-13 February 2014 in Rayong, Thailand in cooperation with the Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ), AIST, Department of Mineral Resources and Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Thailand. The Workshop included 1 1/2 days of seminar and 1 1/2 days on-boat and on-shore field trip in Rayong province, with 38 participants from CCOP member countries (Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam). This workshop focused on how we can integrate the data of different types on land via shore line to shallow sea and not-too-deep sea (Hill to Ocean or H2O concept).
In his keynote lecture on “Quaternary and sedimentary geology for the linkage between onshore and offshore geology”, Dr Yoshiki Saito updated the audience on recent findings on calibration of era boundaries in Quaternary Geochronology based on dating methods, morphology and dynamic of coastline migrations in megadeltaic river mouths in East and Southeast Asia in strong connection with sediment supply. Mr Wichien Intasen (DMR, Thailand) gave a keynote lecture on “Seafloor mapping activities in the gulf of Thailand” with detail description on ship-based data collection (i.e. bathymetry, high-resolution seismic reflection profiling), data ground truthing - physical sampling of the seafloor, seismic data interpretation and seafloor sample analysis, heavy metal pollutants analysis, mapping, data management and dissemination. Keynote lecture by Mr Somsak Wathanaprida (DMCR, Thailand) focused on coastal policy of Thailand and coastal erosion mitigation measures which encourage proactive involvement of local community in scientific measures of coastal protection. Keynote presentation of Singapore participant – introduced the Wideband Multibeam Echo Sounders with detail guidance on how to operate. The system was then installed on the boat and guidance on operation was also shown during the on-boat excursion on the following day. After the keynote lectures, CCOP participants also presented country reports on coastal and marine geological research and management in member countries. A discussion session was followed with focus on future collaboration opportunities among member countries.
After the seminar, a half-day on-shore and a full day on-boat excursions were arranged to see coastal land-use in Rayong.