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Dr Ana Vila-Concejo

Ana Vila-Concejo in One Tree Island

ARC-Future Fellow
Senior Lecturer
Director of One Tree Island Research Station

Madsen Building (F09), Rm 421
Phone: +61 2 9351 5190
Fax: +61 2 9351 3644
Email:

Research Interests

I am interested in the contemporary processes and morphodynamics of coastal systems. I started with siliciclastic temperate environments and I am now also interested in the dynamics of carbonate (coral) sand. My present studies on coral sand are mostly based on fieldwork campaigns undertaken in One Tree Island Research Station. In January 2012 I became Director of the research station and I now work closely with Prof Maria Byrne to make sure that everything works at One Tree Reef.

My career started in Spain, where I did my undergraduate and MSc studying urban beaches; and Portugal, where I completed my PhD investigating the short and medium term evolution of tidal inlets in a barrier island system. I moved to Australia and started looking into the morphodynamics of flood-tide deltas in wave-dominated coasts within the framework of an ARC funded linkage project which was based in Port Stephens.

In 2010 I started researching the morphodynamics of sand aprons in reef platforms collaborating with Jody Webster in the supervision of Dan Harris' PhD thesis. I was awarded an ARC Future Fellowship to continue the studies in the dynamics of coral sands (website in preparation). While I am presently dedicating most of my time to carbonate sand I remain insterested in low energy beaches, tidal inlets, overwash, coastal erosion, hazards and coastal management.

I am a keen fieldworker and have experience in acquiring and processing hydrodynamic, topographic and bathymetric data. I have also worked with fluorescent tracers for studying sediment transport processes. At present, I am also using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a tool to analyse recent and present data.


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Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications

  1. Pereira, LCC, Pinto, KST, Costa, CK, Vila-Concejo, A, Costa, RM da, in press. Oceanographic conditions and human factors on the water quality at an Amazon macrotidal beach. Journal of Coastal Research [accepted 12.July.2011].
  2. Vila-Concejo, A, Austin, TP, Harris, DL, Hughes, MG, Short, AD, Ranasinghe, R, 2011. Estuarine beach evolution in relation to a flood-tide delta. Journal of Coastal Research SI(64): 190-194. [PDF]
  3. Harris, DL, Webster, JM, de Carli, EV, Vila-Concejo, A, 2011. Geomorphology and morphodynamics of a sand apron, One Tree Reef, Southern Great Barrier Reef. Journal of Coastal Research SI(64): 760-764. [PDF]
  4. Benavente, J, Harris, DL, Austin, TP, Vila-Concejo, A, 2011. Medium term behaviour and evolution of a beach cusps system in a low energy beach, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia. Journal of Coastal Research SI(64): 170-174. [PDF]
  5. Pereira, LCC, Vila-Concejo, A, Trindade, WN, Short, AD, 2011. Influence of high-energy conditions on beach changes in tide-dominated (Amazon, Brazil) and wave-dominated (NSW, Australia) coastal environments. Journal of Coastal Research SI(64): 115-119. [PDF]
  6. Silva, NIS, Pereira, LCC, Gorayeb, A, Vila-Concejo, A, Sousa, RC, Asp, NE, Costa, RM, 2011. Natural and social conditions of Princesa, a macrotidal sandy beach on the Amazon coast of Brazil. Journal of Coastal Research SI(64): 1979-1983. [PDF]
  7. Pinto, KST, Pereira, LCC, Vila-Concejo, A, Gorayeb, A, de Sousa, RC, da Costa RM, 2011. Effects of the lack of coastal planning on water quality and land use on a macrotidal beach (Atalaia, Para) in the Amazon Region. Journal of Coastal Research SI(64): 1401-1405. [PDF]
  8. Oliveira, SMO, Pereira, LCC, Vila-Concejo, A, Gorayeb, A, de Sousa, RC, Souza, PWM, 2011. Natural and anthropogenic impacts on a macrotidal sandy beach of the Brazilian Amazon (Ajuruteua, Para): guidelines for coastal management. Journal of Coastal Research SI(64): 1385-1389. [PDF]
  9. Vila-Concejo, A, Hughes, MG, Short, AD, Ranasinghe, R, 2010. Estuarine shoreline processes in a dynamic low-energy system. Ocean Dynamics, 60(2):285-298.
  10. Pacheco, A, Ferreira, Ó, Williams, JJ, Garel, E, Vila-Concejo, A, Dias, JMA, 2010. Hydrodynamics and equilibrium of a multiple inlet system. Marine Geology, 274(1-4): 32-42.
  11. Matias, A, Ferreira, Ó, Vila-Concejo, A, Morris, B, Dias, JA, 2010. Short-term morphodynamics of non-storm overwash. Marine Geology, 274(1-4): 69-84.
  12. Vila-Concejo, A, Short, AD, Hughes, MG, Ranasinghe, R, 2009. Formation and evolution of a sandwave on an estuarine beach. Journal of Coastal Research, SI(56): 153-157. [PDF].
  13. Matias, A, Vila-Concejo, A, Ferreira, Ó, Morris, B.D., Dias, JMA, 2009. Sediment dynamics of barriers with frequent overwash. Journal of Coastal Research, 25(3):768-780.
  14. Austin, TP, Short, AD, Hughes, MG, Ranasinghe, R, Vila-Concejo, A, 2009. Tidal hydrodynamics of a micro-tidal, wave dominated flood-tide delta: Port Stephens, Australia. Journal of Coastal Research, SI(56): 693-697. [PDF]
  15. Matias, A, Ferreira, Ó, Vila-Concejo, A, Morris, B.D., Dias, JMA, 2009. Foreshore and hydrodynamic factors governing overwash. Journal of Coastal Research, SI(56): 636-640. [PDF]
  16. Matias, A., Ferreira, Ó, Vila-Concejo, A., Garcia, T., Dias, J.M.A., 2008. Classification of washover dynamics in barrier islands. Geomorphology, 97 (3-4), 655-674.
  17. Pacheco, A., Vila-Concejo, A., Ferreira, Ó., Dias, J.M.A., 2008. Assessment of tidal inlet evolution and stability using sediment budget computations and hydraulic parameter analysis. Marine Geology, 247(1-2), 104-127.
  18. Vila-Concejo, A., Short, A.D., Hughes, M.G., Ranasinghe, R., 2007. Flood-tide delta morphodynamics and management implications, Port Stephens, Australia. Journal of Coastal Research, SI(50), 705-709. [PDF]
  19. Vila-Concejo, A., Matias, A., Ferreira, Ó., Dias, J.M.A., 2006. Inlet sediment bypassing to a downdrift washover plain. Journal of Coastal Research, SI(39), 401-405. [PDF]
  20. Pacheco, A., Carrasco, A.R., Vila-Concejo, A., Ferreira, Ó., Dias, J.M.A., in press. Recent evolution of the Faro Channel and its association to dredging operations. Journal of Coastal Research, SI(39), 572-577. [PDF]
  21. Bell, P.S., Williams, J.J., Clark, S., Morris, B.D., Vila-Concejo, A., in press. Nested radar systems for remote coastal observations. Journal of Coastal Research, SI(39), 483-487. [PDF]
  22. Pacheco, A., Carrasco, A.R., Vila-Concejo, A., Ferreira, Ó., Dias, J.M.A., 2007. A coastal management program for access channels located in backbarrier systems. Ocean and Coastal Management, 50, 119-143.
  23. Vila-Concejo, A., Matias, A., Pacheco, A., Ferreira, Ó., Dias, J.M.A., 2006. Inlet hazard determination in the Ria Formosa barrier island system (Portugal). Continental Shelf Research, 26/9, 1045-1060.
  24. Alejo, I., Costas, S., Vila-Concejo, A., 2005. Littoral evolution as a response to human action: the case of two sedimentary systems in a Galician Ra. Journal of Coastal Research, SI(49), 64-69. [PDF]
  25. Costas, S., Alejo, I., Vila-Concejo, A., Nombela, M.A., 2005. Persistence of storm induced morphology on a modal low-energy beach. A case study from NW Iberian Peninsula. Marine Geology, 224, 43-56.
  26. Matias, A., Ferreira, Ó., Mendes, I., Dias, J.M.A., Vila-Concejo, A., 2005. Artificial construction of dunes in the South of Portugal. Journal of Coastal Research, 21(3), 472-481
  27. Vila-Concejo, A., Ferreira, Ó., Matias, A., Morris, B.D., Dias, J.M.A., 2004. Lessons from inlet relocation: Examples from Southern Portugal. Coastal Engineering, 51, 967-990.
  28. Vila-Concejo, A., Ferreira, Ó., Ciavola, P., Matias, A., Dias, J.M.A., 2004. Tracer studies on the updrift margin of a complex inlet system. Marine Geology, 208/1, 43-72.
  29. Matias, A., Ferreira, Ó., Dias, J.M.A., Vila-Concejo, A., 2004. Performance of dune recovery techniques: an example on the South Coast of Portugal. Coastal Engineering, 51: 261-276.
  30. Vila-Concejo, A., Ferreira, Ó., Matias, A., Dias, J.M.A., 2003. The two first years of an inlet: Sedimentary Dynamics. Continental Shelf Research, 23: 1425-1445.
  31. Dias, J.M.A., Ferreira, Ó., Matias, A., Vila-Concejo, A., Sa-Pires, C., 2003. Evaluation of soft protection techniques in barrier islands by monitoring programs: case studies from Ria Formosa (Algarve-Portugal). Journal of Coastal Research. SI (35): 117-131.
  32. Williams, J.J., O'Connor, B.A.O., Arens, S.M., Abadie, S., Bell, P., Balouin, Y., Van Boxel, J.H., Do Carmo, A.J., Davidson, M., Ferreira, Ó., Heron, M., Howa, H., Hughes, Z., Kaczmarec, L.M., Kim, H., Morris, B., Nicholson, J., Pan, S., Salles, P., Silva, A., Smith, J., Soares, C., Vila-Concejo, A., 2003. Tidal inlet function: field evidence and numerical simulation in the INDIA project. Journal of Coastal Research, 19(1):189-211.
  33. Vila-Concejo, A., Alejo, I., Vilas, F., 2002. Monitoring of a beach with strong antropogenic impact using topographic and bathymetric techniques, Shore and Beach, 70(2): 3-10.
  34. Vila-Concejo, A., Matias, A., Ferreira, Ó., Duarte, C., Dias, J.M.A., 2002. Recent evolution of the natural inlets of a barrier island system in Southern Portugal. Journal of Coastal Research. SI(36): 741-752. [PDF]
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Undergraduate teaching

Since the award of the Future Fellowship I not longer co-ordinate undergraduate teaching. I am still involved in parts of the following courses.

GEOS 3009/3909 - Coastal Environments and Processes

GEOS 3014/3914 - GIS in Coastal Management

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Postgraduate teaching in Marine Science and Management

I am involved in the new Postgraduate Programme in Marine Science and Management that will start in 2012 and which is a consequence of Sydney University's partnership in the Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences (SIMS).

If you want more information about this Postgraduate Programme please send an e-mail to or visit the website.

I participate in the following postgraduate units of study:

MARS5001 – Coastal environments and processes (6CP; UC Hannah Power). This unit provides a comprehensive explanation on the main types of coastal environments. It also introduces the main process that affect the mentioned coastal environments. It is based in the morphodynamics concept by which morphologic features and hydrodynamic forcing interact with each other through sediment transport. This unit is essential for professionals wanting to work on coastal management or wanting to understand the subtract and processes that affect the coastal flora and fauna.

MARS5004 – Coastal management field school (6CP; UC Peter Cowell). This unit is delivered in block mode over a week during the July semester break. It consists of fieldtrips to the Sydney and NSW coasts visiting some key examples in coastal management. Peter normally seeks the collaboration of some major names in Australian coastal morphodynamics. The contents of this course vary year to year but as an example, in 2011, this course involved a one day fieldtrip around the Sydney coast with Prof. Bruce Thom and several day fieldtrips up and down the coast with Prof Peter Roy.

MARS5005 – Coastal management research project (12CP; UC Ana Vila-Concejo). If you are a masters student with a credit average or more you could be entitled to undertake some independent research in Coastal Management. This unit includes 12CP and consists of a project which can be supervised by almost any lecturer in the university as far as its theme is coastal management. It requires special authorisation so please come and see me if you want to discuss your options.

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Current Projects

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PhD Students

I am the main supervisor to the students listed below. I also co-supervise a number of other students.

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Honours Students

Current

  • Amelia Shannon - Remote sensing in One Tree Reef (working title)
  • Chloe Desgrand - Can we see the effects of climate change in dune coverage? (working title)
  • Louise Nott - On the size, shape and density signatures of carbonate sediments at One Tree Reef (working title)

Completed

  • Elyssa di Carli (2010) Sediment dynamics on One Tree Reef, Australia: Investigating the controls behind sediment variability and evolution of the southern sandsheett. Honours in Geology.
  • Daniel Harris (2009) Multi-Scale Morphodynamic Assessment of an Embayed Low Energy Estuarine Beach, Shoal Bay, Port Stephens, NSW. Honours in Geology.
  • Genoveffa Pezzimenti (2008) Tidal and wave-induced longshore transport on a low energy estuarine beach on a wave-dominated coast, Port Stephens, NSW. Honours in Geology.
  • Lara Ainley (2007) Sediment transport on Jimmy's Beach, NW: Implications for coastal erosion. Honours in Geophysics.
  • Michelle Frolich (2007) Recent morphological evolution of the Port Stephens flood-tide delta. Honours in Geography.
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