Balancing research efforts and management needs.

A challenge to coastal

engineering.By:

M.van Koningsveld (WL|Delft Hydraulics)

J.P.M. Mulder (National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management/RIKZ)

M.J.F.Stive (Technical University of Delft)

Content of research

Researchers

Content of research

End users

Researchers

Content of research

End users

‘free’ ‘driven’ ‘applied’

Balance of initiative

Spectrum of research types

Provocation

“The interaction between management and science in ‘driven research’ settings is

inadequate and can greatly be improved!”

… and consider finding a better approach an exciting challenge to coastal engineering.

We expect ‘driven research’ to become more important in the future …

Outline

1. Description:• Universal Coastal Intelligence Toolkit

(UCIT) (pronounced Use it!)

2. Discussion:• the use of this instrument in unifying

coastal research efforts and management needs

Strategic objective

Operational objective

IndicatorsParameters

-Monitoring-Measurement-Modelling

System knowledge

Reference state

Current state

3. Intervention procedure

1. Quantitative state concept

4. Evaluation procedure2. Benchmarking procedure

Frame of reference (ICCE 2002)

Management

Research

What do we want? (long term)

Wat will we do? (short term)

How will we go about doing that?

Coastal state indicators (data & models)

CSIs

UCITDATA

MODELS

GISCSIs

DATA

The Universal Coastal Intelligence Toolkit (UCIT):

UCIT is not a product but a philosophy that aims to unite data and models either directly or via CSIs …

We’ll show you an example based on the Dutch case

… for the benefit of researchers (efficiency) …

… as well as end users (practicality)

JARKUS measurements:• yearly • ray measurements• app. 250 m spacing

UCITDATA

MODELS

GISCSIs

DATA

CSIs

The Universal Coastal Intelligence Toolkit (UCIT):

The momentary coastline (MCL) is a measure for the position of the coastline. It is based on sand volume rather than linked to the position of the waterline. (TAW, 1995)

The erosion point P (and the location of the boundary profile next to it) is a measure for dune strength. As long as the boundary profile fits, the dune is considered safe. (TAW, 1984)

Coastline management Coastal safety

(Spatial planning)

Coastline in

dicator

Dune strength in

dicator

The Dunetest is derived from a linear regression through all available erosion points P. When the extrapolation to the target year exceeds a critical threshold the dune is considered to be unsafe.

The Testing Coastline (TCL), derived by linear regression from a set of MCLs, is compared to the reference value for 1990 or Basal Coastline (BCL). When the TCL exceeds the BCL nourishment is needed.

Benchmarking procedures compare observed trends with a certain reference values

Dune strength indicatorCoastline indicator

UCITDATA

MODELS

GISCSIs

DATA

CSIs

MODELS

The Universal Coastal Intelligence Toolkit (UCIT):

The blue dots represent the coastline position for each ray …

… together they

form a good coastline!

We can use it

to set up a

coastline model …

The green line is 2003 output of the Unibest CL+ model …

Combination of models is needed …

Small scale:Processmodels

e.g. Delft3D

Large scale:Coastline modele.g. Unibest CL+

We suggest a hybrid approach …

From an existing Unibest CL+ model …

… we can automatically

create a Delft3D model!

UCIT

MODELS

DATA

GIS

CSIs

Unibest

JARKUS

ARGUS

Coastline

Safety

Current status …

Delft3D

How will this stimulate interaction?

• Now two CSIs in the system:• Coastline indicator• Dunestrength indicator

• End users may have different information need, e.g. :• Maintaining a navigationable shipping channel• Maintaining sufficient recreational beach width• Assessing impacts of coastal defence structures

• The information in UCIT can be of use!

Stimulating specialist end user interaction:

UCITDATA

MODELS

GISCSIs

DATA

CSIs

MODELS

New types of data may open the door for new CSIs

Argus is a good example (www.theCoastViewProject.org)

Given CSIs may, in turn, inspire the need for data of a certain spatial and temporal resolution

Existing or new CSIs may prompt certain model developments

Existing or new models may, in turn, provide inspiration for new CSIs

Stimulating this interaction is what UCIT is all about!

• Personal experiences are very positive:

• Convenient storage and easy accessibility of data

• Low barriers to use data

• Greater consistency in the setup and running of models

• Powerful rapid assessment potential

• Gets people to work together that previously did not (within as well as between institutes)

Observations (1)

• Reactions from others are positive as well:• Dutch end users very enthousiastic about the

potential applications• Exposes long felt knowledge gaps and enables

fased and focussed development• Automation of standard operations greatly

reduces the time needed for basic analyses

Observations (2)

• The UCIT approach shows a lot of potential to balance end user needs and research efforts

• As such it is a powerful tool approaching the challenge of driven research projects.• obvious practical use• stimulating research environment

Conclusions