Describe the Fieldwork and Research You Would Undertake in Order to Investigate Changes in Coastal Land Use Overtime

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Describe the fieldwork and research you would undertake to investigate changes in coastal land use overtime. (15 marks) In order to investigate the changes in coastal land use overtime I undertook field work in Minehead, west Somerset. One type of fieldwork technique that I used was ‘land use mapping’. This method involved establishing a basic profile of an area by recording the different types of land use in 8 separate polygon areas on a map. In groups we travelled to separate polygon areas and categorised and mapped the type of land use in that particular area (e.g. residential, industrial, tourism retail, local retail, local services etc.) We then were able to consolidate our findings onto a single map and compare this to an older map of minehead in order to observe and evaluate the overall changes in coastal land use. Another fieldwork technique that I used was ‘field sketching’. This process involved creating a basic field sketch of separate areas along the coast which were then annotated in detail whilst being labelled with the key types of land use and available facilities and features. An alternative method to this would be to take photographs which could then be annotated in the same detailed process. With the sketches we were then able to compare to previous images of the area to evaluate how the landscape had changed and if and or how it had developed. Another form of primary fieldwork would be to carry out a ‘questionnaire’ or ‘survey’. This process would involve a structured interview with a sample of local residents and visitors to record what their opinions were linked to changes in coastal land use and changes in local retail and tourist facilities. A ‘pedestrian count’ could also have

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