Geography and Planning - Mapping riparian vegetation dynamics along the Tana River, Kenya

Supervisor: Dr Richard Boothroyd

Supervisor bio: Dr Richard Boothroyd is a Lecturer in Physical Geography in the School of Environmental Sciences. His research interests include fluvial geomorphology, remote sensing and river-related hazards. His current research uses satellite data to understand the risks that river-related hazards pose to people and infrastructure in dynamic landscapes. 

Email: richard.boothroyd@liverpool.ac.uk

School: Environmental Sciences

Department: Geography and Planning

Module code: N/A

Suitable for students of: Physical Geography, Environmental Science

Desired experience or requirements: Previous experience using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software would be advantageous (e.g., ArcGIS/QGIS). An interest in learning about Google Earth Engine (GEE; https://earthengine.google.com/) will also be needed. The project is 100% computer-based, so can be completed either in person or virtually. The student will require access to GIS software in addition to a stable internet connection to use GEE. 

Places available: 1

Start dates: Session 1 (15th June 2026), Session 2 (6th July 2026)

Project length: 4 or 8 weeks 

Virtual option: Yes

Hybrid option: Yes

Project description:

Riparian vegetation influences the hydrological, geomorphological and ecological functioning of river systems. The spatial and temporal distribution of riparian vegetation is well documented along river corridors in temperate regions, particularly large European rivers, but the understanding is more limited for tropical and semi-arid systems. Satellite data offer an opportunity to address this gap. This project will quantify seasonal to inter-annual changes in riparian vegetation distribution along the Tana River, Kenya. The project will use Geographical Information Systems (GIS) software and the cloud-based geospatial analysis platform Google Earth Engine (GEE) to map and quantify changes in vegetation using satellite data. The student will gain hands-on experience in applying GIS mapping techniques and processing satellite data.

Additional requirements: N/A