PORT WORKS DESIGN MANUAL PART 5 Guide to Design of ...

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4. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION
4.1 General
Beaches are constantly changing in response to various coastal processes and factors that
control them. Successful design and management of a beach require that the coastal
processes and changes be identified at an early stage. This requires sufficient data to assess
the beach responses to the hydrodynamic conditions, to identify potential problems, and to
determine the future effort in managing the beach. A preliminary assessment of the site is
often necessary to devise a suitable data collection programme that should identify the
information already available, additional data to be collected or measured, and the level of
accuracy and resolution. The data collection programme normally involves the following
tasks :
• Desk study.
• Site inspection.
• Ground investigation and field measurements.
• Mathematical modelling.
4.2 Desk Study
Desk study involves analysis of the existing records to develop a general understanding of the
hydraulic regime at the site of interest and provide design data for the beach design. The
following information research is usually required in the desk study :
• Survey plans – Plan form, orientation and width of existing
shore/beach.
• Aerial photographs – Visual information on historical shoreline
change.
• Satellite imagery – Hydraulic and sediment conditions over a
large area.
• Sounding plans – Bathymetry of the beach area, cross-shore
profiles and slopes.
• Geological maps – Type, distribution and size of sediment.
• Ground investigation records – Subsoil profile, strength and other
geotechnical parameters.
• Meteorological records – Water levels, currents and wave climate.
• Nautical Charts – Water depth, features at seabed such as