Monitoring Completed Coastal Projects

Abstract

In 2002, Pentwater, MI, was accepted for inclusion in the Monitoring Completed Navigation Projects Program. The objectives of the monitoring effort at Pentwater Harbor were to evaluate the design of existing pocket wave absorbers and to develop better design guidance for future pocket wave absorber projects. The study included collection of field wave data at Pentwater, physical modeling, and numerical modeling. Monitoring of the prototype harbor entrance was conducted during spring of 2003 and 2004. The field data provided a basis for validating the physical model. The physical model provided extensive data for the Pentwater configuration and eight other plans, as well as data for calibrating and validating the CGWAVE numerical model. It was concluded that the wave absorber design at Pentwater is very effective, maximizing energy dissipa-tion per unit length of constructed absorber. In addition, guidelines are provided to aid in evaluation of other pocket wave absorber designs and to assist in future projects. Numerical modeling is an effective tool to aid in future evaluations and design.

Winter Ecology of Piping Plovers at Oregon Inlet, North Carolina

“…Given the affinity of plovers for inletassociated habitats, artificial closure of storm-created inlets for protection of human property could reduce local plover carrying capacity. Furthermore, inlet stabilization with rock jetties and channel dredging for navigation alter the dynamics of sediment transport and affect the location and movement rate of barrier islands (Camfield and Holmes 1995), which might in turn affect the availability of plover habitat. Coastal engineers, however, sometimes deposit dredged sediment in low wave-energy bays or sounds behind barrier islands (USACE 2006), creating small islands with the potential to attract Piping Plovers (Federal Register 2001).…”

Categories of SHM Deployments: Technologies and Capabilities

“…Monitoring systems can also be installed primarily as research tools to investigate various phenomena, e.g., structural performance, testing of new sensor technologies, or refining novel construction techniques. Camfield and Holmes (1995) review the use of monitoring efforts (in the context of design and operation of coastal installations): "Monitoring is a critical test of design tools, such as physical and numerical models, and the use of these tools. Information obtained from monitoring can be incorporated into design and construction practices on future projects to reduce costs of operations and maintenance.…”