Field Survey and Monitoring System Testing in Vinh Chau (April 2026)
3 tháng 4, 2026
Vinh Chau Town, Soc Trang Province, Vietnam
From 3–4 April 2026, researchers from the Mekong Delta Living Lab project, in collaboration with the Institute of Coastal and Offshore Engineering (ICOE) and Thuy Loi University, conducted a field reconnaissance survey in Vinh Chau, Soc Trang Province. The survey aimed to prepare for the upcoming monitoring campaign by evaluating potential instrument deployment sites, testing monitoring equipment, assessing field accessibility, and collecting reference data to support coastal hydrodynamic and mangrove ecosystem research.
As part of the preparation for the 2026 field monitoring campaign, researchers from the Mekong Delta Living Lab project carried out a two-day reconnaissance survey in Vinh Chau, Soc Trang Province.
The primary objective of the survey was to assess potential locations for installing monitoring instruments used to measure coastal topography, water levels, and currents. During the field campaign, the team evaluated topographic conditions, hydrodynamic characteristics, site accessibility, and environmental factors that could affect the installation, operation, and long-term protection of monitoring equipment.
Based on the field observations, researchers identified suitable deployment locations and developed the monitoring strategy for the main measurement campaign scheduled for June 2026. Information collected during the survey also supported the design and refinement of protective frames intended to minimize the risk of instrument movement, collision, loss, or damage caused by waves, currents, boats, and other environmental impacts.
In parallel with the site assessment, the team conducted field trials of Mini Buoy and Diver instruments to evaluate their performance under real environmental conditions. The tests focused on verifying instrument stability, operational reliability, and the quality of water-level and current measurements while also assessing the effectiveness of the protective mounting system prior to long-term deployment.
The research team additionally collected field photographs, GPS coordinates, and land-use information surrounding the study area. These datasets were incorporated into the Living Lab database to support remote sensing validation, land-cover classification, shoreline monitoring, and long-term analyses of mangrove ecosystem dynamics.
The reconnaissance survey successfully completed the key technical preparations required for the upcoming monitoring campaign and established a solid foundation for future investigations of coastal hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and the role of mangroves in enhancing coastal resilience across the Mekong Delta.