CMAR - Coastal Marine Applied Research: Projects

B-Scan: Beach bed-level Scanner

• Proof-of-concept design for autonomous bed-level measurements.
• Stand-alone sensor providing remote measurements of beach fluctuation in front of sea defences.
• Daily profile data to improve accuracy of overtopping forecasts.
• B-Scan can aid beach management operations when beach ‘trigger’ levels are reached.

“Almost anywhere with a Beach Management Plan (BMP) could benefit from this technique, particularly when it can be linked to specific trigger points as defined in the BMP, which automatically feedback alerts to a user base" Martin Davies, Environment Agency

Feasibility study for intertidal habitat creation scheme

• UAV topographic survey, in situ tide measurements.
• Analysis of tidal flows and hydrodynamic model analysis.
• Quantification of inundation rates and habitat colonisation.
• Proposal of scheme options.

Geomorphological assessment of the gravel barrier at Westward Ho! 

• Assessment of geomorphological processes at Westward Ho! 
• Impact of storm events on the gravel barrier.
• Assessment of current management practices.
• Prediction of gravel barrier behaviour given projected climate change impacts.

“This report has provided us and others with robust evidence to base future positive coastal management decisions on. The monitoring and data presented has helped advance the understanding of this feature and what likely change will happen in future epochs.”

Beach hazard assessment and expert witness services

• Assessment of beach morphology and associated bathing hazards.
• Investigation of forcing conditions (wind, waves, tide, and currents).
• Spatial and temporal mapping of key hazards.
• Expert witness statements for coroners inquests.

Coastal Processes Impact Assessment for Ireland’s ‘Westwave’ Wave Energy Test Site

• Assessment of background wave climate and coastal processes.
• Numerical modelling of nearshore wave conditions and tidal currents.
• Numerical modelling of wave energy converters and potential wave shadow.
• Numerical modelling of beach morphology under an altered wave climate.

Evaluation of waves and water levels in the Tamar estuary  

• Compute design wave and water levels in the Tamar estuary.
• Hindcast fetch- and depth-limited historic wave time series from wind data.
• Compute maximum wave runup and still water level in the estuary.
• Conduct Extreme Value Analysis (EVA) on wave height and total water level.

Improving SEPA’s national coastal flood hazard dataset

• Desk-based study to investigate ways to better incorporate wave setup and runup, and wind setup components in SEPA's coastal flood risk maps. 
• Review of scientific, peer-reviewed literature on coastal flood modelling.

"CMAR provided us with high quality advice with an excellent understanding of our requirements. The work was delivered on time and to a high standard. I would have no hesitation in recommending the team. Many thanks!"

Topographic rip currents around coastal groyne structures

• Ten day field experiment.
• Observation from both fixed instruments (wave, tide and current meters) and GPS-drifters.
• Quantification of topographic rip currents and rip circulation patterns.
• Calibration and validation of a numerical model (XBeach).

South Efford marsh monitoring

• Modelling frequency and duration of tidal inundation.
• Regular terrestrial laser scanning of entire salt marsh.
• Analysis of sediment and seed deposition.
• Ecological monitoring including plant survey.
• Marsh surface samples for foraminiferal analysis.

Assessing the performance of Boscombe artificial surfing reef

• Wave refraction modelling over the measured reef bathymetry to examine wave focusing and breaking on the reef.
• Surfer mounted Global Positioning System (GPS) data recorded during surfing sessions at the reef and the beaches next to Boscombe pier.
• Tidal height predictions, providing estimates of water level on the reef during observations.
• Observation of surfer numbers on the reef and pier beaches taken by Seafront Rangers.