University of Otago School of Surveying student Judy Rodda says she is living her childhood dream.
The PhD candidate has spent the past 12 years chasing one of the smallest marine mammals in the world, the Hector's dolphin.
‘‘As a little kid I wanted to work with marine animals so actually I'm living my dream.''
Last week, Ms Rodda's dolphin research earned her the title of the New Zealand Esri young scholar of the year.
The international supplier of geographic information software scholars award recognises the work of students who are at the beginning of research careers majoring in Geospatial science programmes around the world.
Ms Rodda said winning the award was a nice acknowledgment of the time spent on her PhD and it added a ‘‘great line'' to her c.v.
‘‘It will definitely help promoting being a spatial ecologist.''
Ms Rodda's PhD research used spatial analysis techniques to gather data on the habitat requirements of the Hector's dolphin.
The study tracked about 120 Hector's dolphins in Te Waewae Bay, Southland, for eight seasons from 2004 to 2005.
Only one dolphin in the catalogue was sighted every season during the study.
Ms Rodda said data from the study indicated proximity to sources of freshwater greatly increased the chance of encountering dolphins in the bay.
The individual dolphins were also found to have small home ranges, with some dolphins only encountered within a 10sqkm radius, she said.
Findings from the research were mapped to show the distribution and abundance of the mammal in the bay.
School of Surveying head of department Dr Christina Hulbe said Ms Rodda's research spoke to multiple audiences.
‘‘It is an application of a really beautiful thing [spatial analysis] to an area that lots of us care about.''
Ms Rodda said it was important to measure the plight of the dolphin in a universal way.
‘‘There are three things in life, smiles, music and maps which we all use and understand.''
New Zealand needed to be ‘‘very careful'' to protect the Hector's population, which was estimated to be about 7000.
‘‘They were in such dire straits when I started though and now they have become a bit of a national icon.''
The future for the mammal was ‘‘tentatively better'' than 10 years ago, thanks to efforts by the government and scientists, she said.
Ms Rodda will present her research to Esri Education GIS Conference in San Diego in June.
