Kristen Splinter
UNSW Water Research Laboratory
Manly Vale Campus
Senior Research Associate/Lecturer in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering’s Water Research Laboratory (WRL)
Academic Background
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Ph.D. |
2009 |
Geological Oceanography. Oregon State University, USA. Dissertation: Development of 2D Models to Estimate Nearshore Bathymetry and Sediment Transport. |
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Certificate |
2009 |
Marine Resource Management. Oregon State University, USA. |
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M.Sc. |
2004 |
Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering. University of Florida, USA. Thesis: Effects of Three-Dimensional Forcing on Alongshore Currents: A Comparative Study. |
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B.Sc. (Eng.) |
2002 |
Civil Engineering, Environmental Option. 1st Class Honours. Queen’s University at Kingston, Canada. Thesis: Developing Protocols For Clinker-based Wetland Cells Used for Removing Phosphorus From Wastewater. |
Research interests
I study how our coastline (namely the beaches) erode and recover from changes in the size of waves,sediment supply, and water levels. I develop simple numerical models based on broad-scale observations that can predict how beaches change due to changes in wave height and wave period. A lot of my modelling work utilizes the equilibrium concept (like a spring) to be able to create dynamic models that can predict the cross-shore movement of sandbars and the shoreline over timescales of days to years. I'm also fascinated by rips and beach morphology and how it changes over time. You can check out our coastal imaging stations here: http://ci.wrl.unsw.edu.au/
Recently I have also been involved with research projects to examine the hydrodynamics (waves and water levels) over reefs during exteme (cyclone) conditions. This work is particularly important in the context of rising sea levels and climate change, where Pacific Island Nations may become more vulnerable to these events due to reef submergence and degradation.
Interest in engineering
Why did you get into engineering?
I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to do at the end of high school. Both my parents had engineering backgrounds and then pursued other careers. They encouraged me to consider this route as it provides a solid education. I like to solve problems and generally ask 'why does that happen ?'. I think engineers are critical thinkers and innovators.
What are your research goals?
I like to see my work being used by the public to better inform their decision process. I want my work to make a difference and better society.
What do people not understand about you do?
When I tell people I study beaches they think it’s really cool. What they don’t understand is that, as an engineer, I focus on understanding the “why” so there’s a lot of math behind what I do.
Advice for prospective Civil and Environmental engineers
Engineers make the world a better place. Find something you’re passionate about and turn that into your career. I did. Anything is possible in engineering.
Lectures/Courses taught
Lecturer: CVEN 9640/9640d Coastal Engineering, The UNSW School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Australia.
Lecturer: ENGG1000: Sustainability. The UNSW School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Australia.
Students
Current Student Projects:
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Student |
Topic |
Level |
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Freeman, E. |
Testing floating pontoon breakwaters for stability and safety in extreme conditions. |
PhD |
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Cullins, J. |
Wave runup and overtopping on a coral reef. |
Hons |
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Hay, A. |
The application of Kalman Filters in shoreline modeling. |
Hons |
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Tucker, T. |
Application of a 2D sandbar model to examine cross-shore sandbar migration at Narrabeen-Collaroy, NSW |
Hons |
|
Kiernan, B. |
A tale of 2 beaches: intersite comparison of Wamberal and Narrabeen |
Hons |
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Robinet, A. (U. Bordeaux) |
Proposed topic: Long-term shoreline modelling combining alongshore and cross-shore processes |
PhD |
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Simmons, J. |
Proposed topic: Examining Storm Scale Response on Beaches. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. University of New South Wales. Sydney, Australia. |
PhD |
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Phillips, M. |
Proposed Topic: Examining the Recovery Timescales of Beaches. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. University of New South Wales. Sydney, Australia. |
PhD |
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Bracs, M. |
Monitoring and modelling regional scale coastal variability: implications for the establishment of a national coastal observing network. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. University of New South Wales. Sydney, Australia. |
PhD |
Past Students:
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Gonzalez, M. |
Exploring sandbar migration at a high-energy beach |
Exchange |
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Kearney, E. |
The design, application, and assessment of rapid-response airborne lidar for monitoring of storm induced beach erosion. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. University of New South Wales. Sydney, Australia |
MSc |
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Buezen, T. |
Estimating Shoreline Response to a changing climate. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. University of New South Wales. Sydney, Australia. |
Elite Summer Student |
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Reinhart, M. |
Proposed topic: Examining the links between nearshore morphology and shoreline change Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. University of New South Wales. Sydney, Australia. |
Honours |
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Walters, T. |
Proposed topic: Recovery time-scales of beaches. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. University of New South Wales. Sydney, Australia. |
Honours |
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Poole, J. |
An assessment of engineering works in Bate Bay using GENESIS under the current and projected wave climate. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. University of New South Wales. Sydney, Australia. |
Honours |
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MacKenzie, B. |
Forecasting Future Shoreline Change: The application and development of a shoreline change model in response to projected wave climate. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. University of New South Wales. Sydney, Australia. |
Honours |
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Stanton, M. |
An evaluation of empirical run-up prediction models. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. University of New South Wales. Sydney, Australia. |
Honours |
Looking for students for projects related to:
Nearshore processes, sediment dynamics, coastal impacts in a changing climate, dune erosion, numerical modelling of coastal processes.
Students interested in graduate studies at UNSW are encouraged to use the following resources.
https://selfassessment.research.unsw.edu.au/ - UNSW HDR Self-Assessment Tool
UNSW Scholarship Application Guidelines – International & Domestic schemes(benefits, equity, work and other income), steps to complete application
FAQs for Scholarship applicants – for all scholarship applicants
2015 UNSW Postgraduate Research Handbook – key information on policies, procedures, scholarships, examination, support etc.
Professional Organisations and Consulting positions
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Australian Coastal Society
Awards, Grants, Patents
Current Grants
Turner, Middleton, Splinter, Reniers, Davidson, Blenkinsopp. Beach Erosion and Recovery: Quantifying the Hazard. ARC Discovery 2015. $423K
Castelle, Marieu, Senechal, Ruessink, Idier,Bujan, Ferreira, Splinter (I am a collaborator on 1 part of this grant) Processus cross-shore et longshore comines en morphodynamique littorale (French) ASTRID 2014, Agence de la Reserche (France). 207K euros.
Past Successful Grants
Splinter, Davidson, Blenkinsopp, Turner. Development of a new Coastal Engineering 2-D beach profile model for predicting future coastline response to changing waves and sea-level. UNSW Australia Faculty of Engineering Early Career Research Grant, $20K.
Turner, Middleton, Goodwin, Splinter, Hanslow, Coates. ECL Impacts to beaches. Office of Environment and Heritage NSW Adaptation Research Hub. $66K
Splinter. Development and Application of 2 semi-empirical coastal evolution models to predict coastal change at timescales of days to years along Australian and French wave-dominated coastlines. France-Australia Science Innovation Collaboration (FASIC) Program Early Career Research Fellowship Australian Academy of Science. $5K.
