2016 Dune Management: Funded Research
Oregon State University
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Quantifying uncertainty of beach/dune evolution models: application to managed and natural post-storm foredune recovery develops a front-end interface to the Windsurf model called CReST (the Coastal Recovery from Storms Tool) to add the ability to incorporate beach nourishment and dune construction, beach and dune grading, dune grass planting scenarios, dune grass removal, and the presence of hard engineering structures into the model framework. This added capability allows for better accounting for the complex dynamics of managed coastlines and a flexible framework to investigate the complex interactions between beaches and dunes for a variety of exploratory and applied applications.
Dr. Peter Ruggiero
Image: Recovery of eroded foredune along North Core Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC, October 2015
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
A Calibration Workflow for Coastal Dune Models using Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry and a Genetic Algorithm develops an approach for calibrating models of coastal foredune growth using structure-from-motion photogrammetry and a machine learning technique (genetic algorithms). This project is a step towards better predicting dune growth during inter-storm time periods.
Dr. Laura Moore & Dr. Evan Goldstein
Image: Camera flown by kite to remotely measure topography of dunes at Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC
University of Pennsylvania
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
North Carolina State University
Wind Tunnel Analyses of Vegetation Species: Differences in Sand Capture Efficiency for Natural & Nature-Based Dune Accretion & Management explores the biogeomorphic relationships between plant morphology and density with foredune genesis. Stakeholder benefits from this project include interdisciplinary and applied research for coastal management, modelling parameterization, as well as the opportunity for local and national community involvement with a custom wind tunnel.
Dr. Bianca Charbonneau (Student)
Image: The wind tunnel with a test box with rooted vegetation established for analysis
North Carolina State University
University of Alabama/University of Victoria
North Carolina State University
Wave Runup on a Constructed Berm: Implications for Dune Design investigates the way in which a constructed beach nourishment berm can potentially reduce wave runup impacting protective coastal dunes. The insights from this project will enable designers to appropriately design smaller (less costly) protective dunes in locations where the distance between coastal infrastructure and the shoreline is minimal.
Dr. Beth Sciaudone and Dr. Ayse Karanci
Image: Wave run up on a newly constructed berm at Kitty Hawk, NC as Hurricane José approached on September 18, 2017.
University of Alabama/University of Victoria
University of Alabama/University of Victoria
University of Alabama/University of Victoria
Estimating Coastal Dune Vulnerability to Storm Sequences assesses and demonstrates the potential utility of a storm-sequence approach to estimating potential coastal dune vulnerability to erosive events that are individually below design criteria. The goal is to develop a methodology to assess the long term, regional storm sequence regime at any location using relative wave energy forcing to better appraise vulnerability associated with reduced dune integrity caused by smaller storms that occur over relatively short (seasonal scale) intervals and provide a decision-making tool to guide dune remediation interventions and longer-term vulnerability mitigation strategies. The approach was applied to the Outer Banks, North Carolina.
Dr. Douglas Sherman
& Dr. Ian Walker
Image: Time series of storms and associated storm energy exceedance thresholds for the Outer Banks.