Fieldwork - Unit 3: Section A

Question 1

Title of the investigation: (HG)

Answer 1

An investigation into urban regeneration in Taunton.

Question 2

Introduction: (HG)
Location of the human geography fieldwork

Answer 2

Taunton, Somerset, SW England:
Castle Green
Somerset Square
Station Boulevard
Firepool Lock

Question 3

Introduction: (HG)
Fieldwork hypothesis

Answer 3

The Taunton Re-Think regeneration scheme has been unsuccessful because they have missed so many deadlines.

Question 4

Introduction: (HG)
Why was Taunton (HG) a good location to study

Answer 4

• It has a population of over 64,000 which is over a 3rd of people in Somerset.
• It is a country town that people live in for a reason.
• We could walk to all the places that had been regenerated easily.

Question 5

Introduction: (HG)
Background theory – urban regeneration schemes & aims.

Answer 5

• Taunton was labelled a strategically important town in 2004 and was then eligible for funding.
• Many projects were unveiled in the next 20 years such as Project Taunton, Taunton Vision, and Taunton Garden Town.
• Many things prohibited regenerations such as the recession in 2008 when all the money dried up, and COVID19 where development was put on hold as people could not go to work.

Question 6

Methodology: (HG)
Epitome words - How?

Answer 6

Think of a few words that best describe the area. For example, neglected, overgrown, peaceful and write them down.

Question 7

Methodology: (HG)
Epitome words - Why?

Answer 7

It identifies the high frequency words therefore seeing if others agree.

Question 8

Methodology: (HG)
Epitome words - Sampling method?

Answer 8

Stratified
Words from the areas that were highlighted for regeneration.

Question 9

Methodology: (HG)
Epitome words - Equipment?

Answer 9

No equipment was necessary to complete this investigation making it convenient.

Question 10

Methodology: (HG)
Environmental Quality Assessment - How?

Answer 10

Choose a few environmental factors to look for such as litter and create a table and a scoring system. Give each place a score for each factor and count at the end.

Question 11

Methodology: (HG)
Environmental Quality Assessment - Why?

Answer 11

It allows us to separately score different components and then add them together clearly see which is most developed in that area.

Question 12

Methodology: (HG)
Environmental Quality Assessment - Sampling method?

Answer 12

Stratified

Question 13

Methodology: (HG)
Environmental Quality Assessment - Equipment?

Answer 13

A pen and paper are needed to record but no equipment is needed to collect.

Question 14

Methodology: (HG)
Success Criteria - How?

Answer 14

Look at what was promised for each place you went to and judge whether it has been delivered, is incomplete, or has had no progress towards the goal. After, plot in the table and see how many delivered proposals there are.

Question 15

Methodology: (HG)
Success Criteria - Why?

Answer 15

The boxes clearly show how much has been done and allows you to make comments about the success or lack of it.

Question 16

Methodology: (HG)
Success Criteria - Sampling method?

Answer 16

Stratified

Question 17

Methodology: (HG)
Success Criteria - Equipment?

Answer 17

Again, no equipment however a table on a sheet is important for recording.

Question 18

Data presentation: (HG)
Epitome words - How did you present the data? Any manipulation of data required?

Answer 18

We used a word cloud which used all the words collected. Every description was seen therefore there was no manipulation of data.

Question 19

Data presentation: (HG)
Epitome words - Why did you choose that type of presentation method (word cloud)?

Answer 19

• It was clear and easy to read and identify the high frequency words.
• Quick and no hassle to produce.
• Helps visualise qualitative data.

Question 20

Data presentation: (HG)
Environmental Quality Assessment - How did you present the data? Any manipulation of data required?

Answer 20

• A radar graph was used to plot the scores of each location which required no manipulation of data.
• A GIS located proportional symbols map was also used to demonstrate EQA data however it did average out all the different factors, so data manipulation was required.

Question 21

Data presentation: (HG)
Environmental Quality Assessment - Why did you choose that type of presentation method (Radar graph + GIS)?

Answer 21

• It shows all the independent variables.
• You can easily compare it to multiple locations.
• It identifies the impact of a specific variable score.
• It shows the location (geo-locates data)
• Provides extra proportional data that may impact EQA scores.
• Very visual therefore easy to comprehend.

Question 22

Data presentation: (HG)
Success criteria - How did you present the data? Any manipulation of data required?

Answer 22

A simple table that has columns with what was promised in the space and headings that say yes, no, and incomplete. There was no data manipulation.

Question 23

Data presentation: (HG)
Success criteria - Why did you choose that type of presentation method (Simple table)?

Answer 23

It clearly shows what columns have been ticked and allows you to make clear comments about the area. It allows you to determine to what extent the proposals have been completed instead of one yes or no.

Question 24

Data Analysis: (HG)
What did you find out? Why is that significant? Quote data in your answer.

Answer 24

• We found out that urban regeneration in Taunton has been successful in some specific areas, but others have still been left neglected.
• For example, castle green has been very successful as there is lots of green space and there is an abundance of street furniture, making it a great new civic space.
• In contrast Station boulevard has the worst noise pollution recorded and no street furniture. Vandalism is also a big problem in the area.
• It is clear to see where the effort was put in in the regeneration schemes and what areas are still in desperate need of some attention.

Question 25

Conclusion: (HG) Answer your hypothesis. Do the results match your expectations? If yes, how so? If no, why not?

Answer 25

The fieldwork data does not support my hypothesis that there has been little regeneration in Taunton. This conclusion is based on the following evidence: 1. There were high EQA scores recorded in 2 out of 4 places we visited. 2. The new civic square and event space has been made. 3. 300 dwellings in Firepool lock have also been built which shows successful regeneration in the area. Geographical explanation: It has been changed to provide more economic, social and environmental opportunities as there are countless more green spaces and dwellings that cater to the growing population in urban areas. I believe it has been mostly successful as there were clear positive changes in many locations however in places such as Station Boulevard, change has only just begun.

Question 26

Evaluation: (HG) What did you do well? What could you improve? Any ethical issues?

Answer 26

* WWW = We collected data from many different locations using the same scoring systems which make it easy to compare and presented the data in a multitude of ways. * WWW = The data collection methods were reliable because the success criteria created could be reproduced. * EBI = More of our scoring methods such as epitome words and the EQA were not so subjective, and we could have got more people to do it and average out the scores to come up with more reliable data.

Question 27

Risk assessment: (HG) Hazard: Traffic

Answer 27

* Risk = Not looking and getting hit by a car. * Likelihood = Low. * How the risk can be reduced = Look where you are going and use pedestrian crossings.

Question 28

Risk assessment: (HG) Hazard: People

Answer 28

* Risk = People we don’t know asking us personal information. * Likelihood = Medium. * How the risk can be reduced = Don’t go off on your own and always go in pairs or threes.

Question 29

Title of investigation: (PG)

Answer 29

To investigate the impact of longshore drift on the shingle ridge at Porlock bay.

Question 30

Introduction: (PG) Location

Answer 30

Porlock bay

Question 31

Introduction: (PG) Hypothesis

Answer 31

* The shingle ridge will be steeper in the east of Porlock Bay. * The sediment will be smaller and more rounded in the east of Porlock Bay.

Question 32

Introduction: (PG) Why was Porlock bay a good location to study?

Answer 32

* Accessible. * Untouched by human activity. * Has not been changed by hard engineering strategies. * Size appropriate – could conduct everything in the same day.

Question 33

Introduction: (PG) Background theory – wind direction, geology.

Answer 33

* Prevailing wind is Northwest. * Headlands are hard rock sandstone. * Bays are soft rock mudstone.

Question 34

Methodology: (PG) Beach profile - How?

Answer 34

* Someone stood at the bottom of the beach and another person went to where the steepness next changed. * The two people should be roughly the same height so that the first person can use the clinometer to line it up to the other persons eyes. * They would then read off the figure. * Tape measure on floor.

Question 35

Methodology: (PG) Beach profile - Why?

Answer 35

To see if the shape of the beach changed from Gore point to Hurlstone point.

Question 36

Methodology: (PG) Beach profile - Sampling method?

Answer 36

Stratified

Question 37

Methodology: (PG) Beach profile - Equipment?

Answer 37

Clinometer & tape measure

Question 38

Methodology: (PG) Sediment size - How?

Answer 38

Every meter someone would pick up a rock and use a rock calliper to measure the A axis (longest side) of the rock and then put it in a table then repeat 11 more times.

Question 39

Methodology: (PG) Sediment size - Why?

Answer 39

To see if attrition has taken place and the pebbles have been worn down.

Question 40

Methodology: (PG) Sediment size - Sampling method?

Answer 40

Systematic

Question 41

Methodology: (PG) Sediment size - Equipment?

Answer 41

Rock calliper & Tape measure

Question 42

Methodology: (PG) Sediment shape - How?

Answer 42

Every meter we would pick up a rock and compare it to the powers index of roundness scale and decide where the criteria fit best.

Question 43

Methodology: (PG) Sediment shape - Why?

Answer 43

To see whether they become more rounded because of attrition and longshore drift.

Question 44

Methodology: (PG) Sediment shape - Sampling method?

Answer 44

Systematic

Question 45

Methodology: (PG) Sediment shape - Equipment?

Answer 45

Powers Index of Roundness scale & tape measure

Question 46

Methodology: (PG) Field sketch - How?

Answer 46

We sat higher up on a hill to the east to get a good view of the whole bay and used a pen and paper to draw what landmarks we say as well as then annotating it to include important information such as wind direction and therefore direction of longshore drift.

Question 47

Methodology: (PG) Field sketch - Why?

Answer 47

So that you can add labels to a visual display of the beach.

Question 48

Methodology: (PG) Field sketch - Sampling method?

Answer 48

Stratified

Question 49

Methodology: (PG) Field sketch - Equipment?

Answer 49

Pen and paper.

Question 50

Data presentation: (PG) Beach profile - How did you present the data? Any manipulation of data required?

Answer 50

We presented the data in a line graph that we plotted from the table that we first put our data in. There was no manipulation of data except for the fact that the tide did come in so the heights would not be completely accurate.

Question 51

Data presentation: (PG) Beach profile - Why did you choose that type of presentation method (Line graph)?

Answer 51

* It allowed for an accurate visualisation of the beach shape. * It displayed height and width. * It showed the visual representation of the cross-sectional area. * It is easy to compare to multiple locations.

Question 52

Data presentation: (PG) Sediment size - How did you present the data? Any manipulation of data required?

Answer 52

We used a dispersion graph as our main presentation method, and it didn’t require any manipulation of data. Another presentation method we used was a GIS map which did involve finding the mean sizes of the rocks at each place.

Question 53

Data presentation: (PG) Sediment size - Why did you choose that type of presentation method (dispersion graph & GIS map)?

Answer 53

* Dispersion graphs highlight anomalies and make it easy to compare sites. It can show a range of data. * It identifies the interquartile range (and the mean). * Clear visual representation. * Shows the location. (Geo location data) * Doesn’t become cluttered.

Question 54

Data presentation: (PG) Sediment shape - How did you present the data? Any manipulation of data required?

Answer 54

We used a radar graph to show the size of sediment at each point which was very effective and required no manipulation.

Question 55

Data presentation: (PG) Sediment shape - Why did you choose that type of presentation method (Radar graph)?

Answer 55

* It shows all the independent variables. * You can easily compare it to multiple locations. * It identifies the impact of a specific variable score.

Question 56

Data analysis: (PG) What did you find out? Why is that significant? Quote data in your answer.

Answer 56

We found that the profile of the beach was steeper at site 2 that it was at site 1. Our results clearly show this as at the point at site 1 (Gore point) we recorded an angle of 10 degrees whereas at site 2 (Hurlstone point) we recorded an angle of 30 degrees which is 3 times as steep. * This is significant because it shows that there is an excess of sediment that has been dumped at site 2 and more is being taken away at site 1 which is evidence of Longshore drift. We also found that the number of rocks and pebbles that were described as very rounded by the Power’s Roundness scale was 20 at site 2 whereas in site one it was only around 3. * This is significant because it demonstrates that through time and longshore drift, these pebbles have become more rounded.

Question 57

Conclusion: (PG) Answer your hypothesis. Do the results match your expectations? If yes, how so? If no, why not?

Answer 57

* We have found that the fieldwork data supports our hypothesis that the shingle ridge will be steeper in the east and the sediment will also be smaller and more rounded in the east if Porlock Bay (Hurlstone Point). This conclusion is based on the following evidence: 1. The prevailing wind is from the Northwest which means that longshore drift would move the sediment east thus causing attrition of sediment. 2. Site 2 (Hurlstone point) had places of 30-degree incline. 3. 20 rocks were recorded as very rounded at Hurlstone point * A geographical explanation for our conclusions is that longshore drift moves the sediment along the beach as the swash comes in at an angle and due to gravity, the backwash is at 90 degrees to the shoreline. * Along the way, erosional processes such as attrition and abrasion wear down the rocks and pebbles making them smoother and more rounded before they are dumped at the point where they can go no further, usually when there is a physical barrier in the way such as a headland. * I am certain that I have proven the hypothesis because the measurements were clear, and the same methods were used at both sites which makes the data more reliable.

Question 58

Evaluation: (PG) What did you do well? What could you improve? Any ethical issues?

Answer 58

* WWW = We successfully gathered and plotted our findings so that we could easily compare the sites using our chosen display methods. * WWW = We recorded many different areas to make an informed decision on our hypothesis. * EBI = There were some limitations with the data collection methods as the equiptment such as the clinometer wasn’t the most accurate. To improve this a digital clinometer that includes decimal places could be used. * EBI = The tide also changed between site 1 and site 2 which creates limitations as we can therefore not know the actual width of the beach at the same time as the other site. To improve when there is more time, and more recourses people could record at the same time the different points and compare.

Question 59

Risk assessment: (PG) Hazard - Sea

Answer 59

* Risk = Being swept away/drowning. * Likelihood = Low * How can the risk be reduced = Always stay at least 1m from edge of water.

Question 60

Risk assessment: (PG) Hazard - Slips, trips, and falls

Answer 60

* Risk = Falling on a rock or twisting an ankle. * Likelihood = Medium. * How can the risk be reduced = Wear appropriate footwear and don’t run.

Question 61

Risk assessment: (PG) Hazard - Rock slides

Answer 61

* Risk = Large slabs falling on your head. * Likelihood = Low. * How can the risk be reduced = Stay a good distance away from the cliffs.

Question 62

Risk assessment: (PG) Hazard - Weather

Answer 62

* Risk = The conditions mean that other hazards can be presented. * Likelihood = Medium. * How can the risk be reduced = Make sure you check the weather before going out and pack accordingly.