Plotting a future that hits the mark

Grace Cinque’s spending her fourth year at Otago operating remote-controlled boats.

The Bachelor of Surveying student is this year’s recipient of a Discovery Marine (DML) scholarship, which comes with a year’s free tuition, a trip to Tauranga to meet the DML team – and a tiny boat hooked up to an X-Box controller.

It’s a dream opportunity for Grace, and it all started with a throwaway comment from her mum.

“I was in Year 12 at Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, and I was strong with maths. I told mum I was looking at studying engineering at university, and she asked if I’d considered surveying instead,” Grace says.

“I looked into it, and I thought surveying sounded so cool. I liked that I could be outdoors, and that it involved a lot of problem solving. I went and worked at a Wellington surveying firm the summer before coming to Otago. My logic was that after three months of being a survey assistant, if I hated it, I could do engineering instead. But I loved it.”

Surveying hit the mark because it is a varied discipline that encompasses construction, engineering and civil works. But it wasn’t until she’d already started her degree that aquatic enthusiast Grace learnt about another field of surveying – hydrographic surveying, which involves the mapping of rivers, lakes, seabed and their shorelines.

“I’ve been sailing, swimming and playing underwater hockey since I was little,” says Grace, who still competes in underwater hockey tournaments.

“My grandfather set up a yacht club, and my family’s been involved in sailing. So, when I found out there was hydrographic surveying on boats I thought wow, that sounds perfect.”

Now in its third year, the DML scholarship is offered to a student undertaking a hydrographic surveying project. Before being awarded the scholarship Grace was interviewed by DML’s CEO (and Otago alumnus) Declan Stubbing and Director Kevin Smith about her project, in a process she describes as less Dragon’s Den and more “sounding board”.

“My research project is about uncrewed surface vessels, which are mini boats that you remote control. I’m looking at two different surface vessels in a variety of environments and comparing them in terms of collection methods and post processing.”

Mini boats were supplied by DML and Global Survey, and Grace has been working with representatives from both companies.

"People are really interested when they see you with a brightly coloured, small boat."

“They’ve shown me how to set up the software and got me ready to go. Although the boats are fun to use, I’m focusing on the surveying sensors that have been placed on them, like the echo sounder which uses the speed of sound in the water to calculate depth.”

Grace’s research has taken her to all sorts of interesting places.

“The Dunedin City Council’s been very generous giving me access to ponds like the Southern Water Reservoir and Sullivan’s Dam. At Sullivan’s Dam we made a very early start, and it was so lovely. It’s right in the middle of this beautiful bush, the sun was rising, and we heard all the birds. But it’s hard to pick a favourite location, because they’ve all got cool features.”

The project has given level-headed Grace a taste of fame.

“People are really interested when they see you with a brightly coloured, small boat. I’ve definitely had interest from members of the public – and I ended up in the paper after an Otago Daily Times photographer saw me!”

Now that she’s collected her field data she’ll process it, write her dissertation, and chart her course into a career.

“There’s a recruitment period in August, and we’ll all be hired by about September. In Surveying we’re guaranteed jobs,” Grace says.

That’s lucky, because having discovered surveying, Grace is staking her claim to a future in the field.

“We’re really lucky in surveying. It’s so much fun, and no two days are ever the same. We fly drones, we laser scan, we help make sure skyscrapers go up straight. You get to work with cool technology and a great group of people.”

The Otago University Surveying Students Association (OUSSA) Executive member also counts herself lucky to have received support from DML.

“DML are an amazing company, and they’ve been so generous with the scholarship, providing financial and technical support for my project. And I really enjoyed visiting their offices in Tauranga. It was lovely to walk into the room and recognise the Otago graduates.”

Having seen Grace measure up with mini boats, the company recently gave her some experience with a larger vessel when they invited Grace and her classmates on a coastal mapping project in Karitane.

“DML had a job surveying the coastline from their boat The Acheron. I even had a go driving the boat!”

Declan says DML takes real pride in supporting the next generation of hydrographic surveyors.

“Our scholarship allows a keen student to specialise in hydrography in their final year while gaining valuable industry exposure,” he says.

“It also provides something back to the industry through their research project. Otago graduates are highly sought after, and this is a practical way for us to support good people into the profession.”

Grace’s Honours project supervisor, Senior Lecturer in the School of Surveying, Emily Tidey, is especially buoyed by DML’s support.

“Seeing students like Grace thrive through industry support really highlights the value of philanthropy in action as well as the value of ongoing alumni relationships that the School of Surveying proudly maintains. Collaborating with companies like DML enriches the student experience, opens doors to applied learning, and strengthens the pathway into rewarding careers in surveying and beyond.”

– Kōrero by Kathryn van Beek, Communications Advisor | Kaiarataki Pārokoroko