Ongoing Research at the USACE Field Research Facility Jeff Waters, PhD Chief, Coastal Observations & Analysis Branch Coastal & Hydraulics Lab

Ongoing Research at the USACE Field Research Facility Jeff Waters, PhD Chief, Coastal Observations & Analysis Branch Coastal & Hydraulics Lab

Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory Who We Are CHL is the only federal laboratory dedicated solely for coastal and hydraulic research. Our multi-disciplinary team addresses challenges ranging from groundwater to coastal inlets. More than three-quarters of the laboratory s engineers and scientists hold advanced degrees, contributing to the production of successful coastal and inland water resources solutions.

Navy Duck Rocket and Target Range 1941-1965

FRF: 1 st Two Decades (1977-2000) DUCK-X 1978 ARSLOE 1980 ASEX 1981 DUCK82 DUCK85 SUPERDUCK 1986 DELILAH 1990 DUCK94 RIP 1996 SANDYDUCK 97 SHOWEX - 1999 NDBC 46m

FRF Wave Arrays 8m-Array 1986 present 15 Bottom mounted pressure gauges High directional-resolution Iterative Maximum Likelihood Estimator for wave direction Unique for long-term waves measurements Cross-Shore Array 2008-present Cross-shore measurements of wave transformation Nearshore: 3 buried Paros pressure sensors and 3 AWAC gauges, 3 co-located altimeters 11m Awac 3 offshore buoys LIDAR runup and setup 11m Awac Cross-shore Array Buoys: 17m WaveRider (3.2 km) 26m Waverider (17 km) 46m NDBC 44014 (95 km) 8m Array Dune LIDAR Aquadopp 2.5m AWACs 4.5, 6, 11m WaveriderS 17 m & 26 m NDBC 46m

Nearshore Survey System Evaluation Evaluate the accuracy of the LARC vs CRAB for surveying the beach and nearshore Survey systems: Coastal Research Amphibious Buggy (CRAB); 10m tall, real time kinematic global positioning system (RTK-GPS), motion sensor (pitch and roll) Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo (LARC); Digital echosounder, RTK-GPS, motion sensor (heave, pitch, and roll) PIs: Mike Forte & Rob Mitchell Field test: repetitively survey two profile lines (4 times by CRAB, 9 times by LARC) Results: The two systems compared well; mean difference of ~ 1cm along profile line, RMS error 3.1cm. Re-evaluate systems during more adverse wave conditions

Field Research Facility Data Integration Framework FDIF FRF Data Portal Version 2.0 PI: Mike Forte Provides near real time data access for a variety of coastal observations and data access for implementation of Coastal Model Test Bed General plotting and statistics for user defined time periods covering (1980 current) Tools for statistically comparing two datasets (i.e. observed vs. modeled)

Coastal Model Test Bed PI: Spicer Bak Purpose: Automated evaluation of coastal numerical models in near real-time utilizing FRF data to: assess model parameterizations in range of conditions Identify poorly resolved model physics provide framework to develop data assimilation techniques Models: STWAVE Operational CMS Under Development CSHORE FY 17

Nearshore Processes PIs: Bradley Johnson, Spicer Bak, Patrick Dickhudt, Katherine Brodie Expand real-time altimeter array to improve morphologic modeling capability (CSHORE) Incorporate CSHORE into CMTB Multi-program effort Flood & Coastal CODS CIRP Existing Summer 2017

FRF Terrestrial Lidar Research Dune Erosion during Storms Surf-zone wave shapes improve basic physics of wave-driven sediment transport Beach Morphological Evolution collect critical data for improved predictions Wave Runup & Swash Hydrodynamics data available in near-realtime for model evaluation Elevation (m, NAVD88) high-spatial & temporal 3D data sets (hourly) 1.2 1 Wave time-series paros raw laser filtered (f<0.5hz) and averaged (0.5s) laser data 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0-0.2 08:04:30 08:04:45 08:05:00 08:05:15 08:05:30 08:05:45 08:06:00 08:06:15

Video Imaging for Coastal Monitoring GOAL: Transition nearshore video imagery R&D (ARGUS) for District use over the next 5 years (SoN submitted:2017-n-66) Adapt technology developed in academia to make quantitative coastal observations to provide USACE districts with an improved capability to monitor coastal projects from both stationary & mobile UAS platforms Improve accessibility to Argus community through online code repositories, boot-camps, increased visibility, and development of an international Coastal Imaging Research Network Identify ways to utilize coastal monitoring data to calibrate USACE numerical models Video observations of breaking waves can be used to map the shoreline and sandbar morphology UAVs are an accessible platform from which these data can be collected don t need a tower any more! Video observations of wave speeds can be used to calculate water depth

FRF UAS & Video Imaging Research Merged Topo-Bathy Identifying UAS Applications to Support Flood Risk Management Needs Survey & Mapping Infrastructure Assessment Environmental Monitoring PI: Kate Brodie Evaluation of existing platforms & capabilities in Duck, NC Compare/contrast a wide array of sensors, platforms, and data processing methodologies to assess capabilities Particular focus on uncertainty & error propagation Identify ways to integrate data with USACE numerical models

Coastal Lidar and Radar Imaging System(CLARIS) Multi-Sensor Mobile Surveying System: Lidar-based topography measurements Radar-based wave speed measurements bathymetry inversion Spherical camera for colorizing topography measurements (FY 17) Vehicle Platform Upgrade: 4WD passenger van all components reside inside cabin other than active sensors Safer and more reliable for driver and operator Upgraded instrumentation and processing algorithms (FY 17) Beach Surveys Performed: Quarterly (20 km centered around FRF) Pre/During/Post-Storms Upcoming municipalities beach nourishment (FY 17) Observational Data are Critical For: Field verification of numerical models predicting alongshore variations in dune morphological response to extreme storms dune swash sandba

Dune Research at the FRF Focused on understanding the eco-geomorphological feedbacks that contribute to a coastal foredune s system resiliency (as outlined in ERDC SR-15-1 as NNBF) Short Term Evolution Utilizes high-resolution terrestrial lidar monthly surveys of three dune sites with different geometry o Steeply-scarped dune o Wide, hummocky dune o Human-modified dune Wind, wave and precipitation observations provide forcing on system Elevation measurements quantify the erosion and accretion response at the centimeter scale Response phenomena magnitude assessed for various geometry Long Term Evolution Probablistic model will be trained on the FRF s 30-year record of wind, waves, and topography Identify which variables are the most important for encouraging resilience during periods of dune growth/erosion.

Radar Inlet Observing System (RIOS) PI: Jesse McNinch RIOS utilizes X-band radar to measure wave breaking and wave speed. Wave observations are then used to calculate depths through bathymetry inversion and scaling. These measurements are particularly suited to determine the location of channels and shoals across shallow, coastal environments such as tidal inlets. Raw Data RIOS-derived bathymetry System Requirements Range of measurements are limited to within 3km of the RIOS antenna Field site must have waves present (not conducive for small lakes or rivers) A single X-band rotation showing high intensity returns on incident waves. Depth scaling models relating radar intensity to measured depths Bathymetric depth chart generated hourly. Navigation Routes and Conditions Product List RIOS provides the following products hourly: ascii data file of estimated depths across domain wave conditions along an identified navigation route time-averaged (detided) georectified image of wave breaking conditions that identifies shoals across the domain Time-average of radar intensity over a 10min collection. Vessel wakes measured by RIOS identify navigation route. Wave conditions along navigation route. shoreline and shoal position within domain

Currituck Sound Array 1. Long-term estuarine observatory 2. 5 stations providing real-time hydrodynamic, water quality, and meteorologic data. CSA 03 Standard measurements Water level Waves / Currents Wind Turbidity Salinity / Temperature At select stations Light attenuation fdom Chlorophyll ph Dissolved Oxygen Bed elevation CSA 04 CSA 02 CSA 05 FRF CSA 01

Nearshore Geophysics: Geologic Framework PIs: Heidi Wadman and Jesse McNinch Examples of Engineering Needs: - Identification of offshore/nearshore variations in sediment type and thickness (often related to shoreline change) - Identification of sand resources/habitat/cultural resources - Rapid mapping of the local geologic framework (identification of geologic controls on scour, shoreline erosion, etc.) minimizes need for expensive boreholes. Observational Data are Critical For: - Improved modeling of sediment transport, short- and longterm shoreline erosion, and morphology change) - Increasing accuracy of shoreline stability predictions

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