Welcome to the Intertidal Coastal Sediment Transport Lab (IN_CoaST)

Understanding the coastal processes that shape resilient shorelines.

The Intertidal Coastal Sediment Transport Research Unit (IN_CoaST) is a core research laboratory within TransCoastal Adaptations (TCA) at Saint Mary's University. Since 2008, the lab has advanced research on coastal processes, sediment dynamics, and nature-based adaptation, providing the scientific foundation for many of the Centre's projects across Atlantic Canada.

Research Areas 

IN_CoaST investigates the interactions between coastal landscapes, ecological systems, and physical processes to better understand how shorelines evolve over time. 

Research focuses on the relationships between:

  • Coastal Geomorphology (how shorelines evolve)

  • Blue Carbon 

  • Sediment Dynamics (erosion, deposition, and sediment transport)

  • Hydrodynamics 

  • Climate Change Adaptation (assessing coastal response to sea-level rise and changing environmental conditions)

  • Human Impacts (how infrastructure such as dykes and causeways influence coastal systems) 

By examining these interactions across multiple spatial and temporal scales, the lab supports evidence-based approaches to climate adaptation and nature-based infrastructure. IN_CoaST provides the field observations, monitoring, modelling, and coastal process expertise that inform TCA’s applied research.

Methodologies & Instruments 

Laboratory Facilities 

Located in the Science Building at Saint Mary's University, the laboratory supports detailed sediment analysis and sample processing. Equipment includes: 

  • Coulter Multisizer 4E 

  • Sediment analysis facilities 

  • Sample preparation workspace 

  • Tub for testing instruments 

Field Research 

IN_CoaST maintains a suite of instruments for monitoring coastal environments. Equipment includes: 

  • Nortek ADV 

  • Nortek ADCP 

  • Nortek ECO ADCP 

  • Sontek M9 ADCP 

  • Hydroboard survey platform 

  • Survey kayak 

  • ISCO automated water sampler 

  • HOBO water level loggers 

  • HOBO Conductivity loggers 

  • HOBO RX3000 weatherstations 

  • RBR wave loggers 

  • RBR CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) 

  • RBR Turbidity loggers (high and low concentration) 

  • Radar tide gauge 

  • SOFAR wavespotter buoy 

  • Knudsen echo sounder 

  • YSI ProQuatro water quality meter 

  • Castaway CTD 

For any questions about instruments and equipment, reach out to Coastal Wetland Research Technician Jordan Dunham: jordan.dunham@smu.ca.

Key Collaborators

  • IN_CoaST collaborates closely with MP_SpARC to integrate geomatics, GIS, remote sensing, drone technologies, and spatial analysis into coastal research. MP_SpARC supports projects through:

    • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

    • Remote sensing

    • Surveying

    • Drone operations

    • Spatial modelling

    • Coastal mapping

    Learn more about MP_SpARC.

  • CBWES leads projects in habitat restoration (tidal wetlands, fish, species at risk), climate change adaptation, nature-based solutions, shoreline stabilization, ecology of coastal barrens, and green roof technology. Since being founded in 2005, CBWES Inc. has collaborated with government, academic, private sector and NGO partners in restoring over 430 ha of Atlantic Canada’s wetlands.

    Learn more about CBWES.

Recent Publications

2026

Brunetta, R., Crowell, S., Elliott, M., Van Proosdij, D., & Ciavola, P. (2026). Morphological instability in restored intertidal flats: How anthropogenic structures drive early‐stage evolution. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 51(3), e70260.

Galang, E. I. N. E., Sherren, K., van Proosdij, D., Bowron, T., & Cormier, J. (2026). The Agricultural Heritage System framework for collaborative environmental governance: A case for the Bay of Fundy's dykelands and foreshore marshes. The Canadian Geographer/Le Géographe canadien, 70(1), e70064.

Sampson, K., Lundholm, J., van Proosdij, D., & Walker, A. (2026). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal establishment in cordgrasses (Sporobolus spp.) at restored and natural Bay of Fundy salt marshes. The Canadian Field-Naturalist, 139(2), 115-125.

2025

Crowell, S., Elliott, M., Nichols, K., van Proosdij, D., Poirier, E., Graham, J., ... & Lundholm, J. (2025). Legacy vegetation and drainage features influence sediment dynamics and tidal wetland recovery after managed dyke realignment. Land, 14(3), 456.

Cornejo, L., Sherren, K., Lundholm, J., van Proosdij, D., & Bennett, E. M. (2025). Using a causal conceptual model of managed dyke realignment as a boundary object promotes multi-stakeholder collaboration and co-production. Nature-Based Solutions, 8, 100253.

Richardson, E., Millard, K., & van Proosdij, D. (2025). On the Use of Post-Classification Change Analysis for Monitoring Salt Marsh Extent in Support of Carbon Inventory Reporting. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 101862.

Thomas, J., George, J., Van Proosdij, D., & Murphy, E. (2025). Wave dynamics and potential longshore sediment transport at Shippagan, Gulf of St Lawrence: insight into seasonal variability and extreme weather events. Frontiers in Marine Science, 12, 1579807.

2024

Sherren, K., Rahman, H. M. T., Manuel, P., Wells, E., Rapaport, E., & van Proosdij, D. (2024). Reimagining nature‐based coastal adaptation: A nested framework. Journal of Flood Risk Management, 17(4), e13026.

Thomas, J., & van Proosdij, D. (2024, February). The impact of Sub-inertial Oscillations on Flooding during Fiona Hurricane along the Atlantic Coast. In American Geophysical Union, Ocean Sciences Meeting (No. 1987, pp. CP44E-1987).

2023

van Proosdij, D., Graham, J., Lemieux, B., Bowron, T., Poirier, E., Kickbush, J., ... & Lundholm, J. (2023). High sedimentation rates lead to rapid vegetation recovery in tidal brackish wetland restoration. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 11, 1112284.

Past Research Projects

Masters Projects

Undergraduate Projects

 
Contact In_Coast Lab

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