Updated: 11 March 2001
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Teignmouth Project

COAST 3D (a MAST III European research project)
Autumn 1999
Introduction
There are many theoretical models in existence for beach profile and coastal area change, but very few have been tested against field data due, in part, to the lack of suitable field data. COAST 3D is a 3 1/2 year project designed to remedy this lack, by conducting two extensive field campaigns to collect data with which a broad spectrum of existing models can be tested. The aim then is to produce validated coastal morphological models which can be used for coastal zone management.

Two contrasting sites were chosen for field measurements. The first deployment took place in the autumn of 1998 at Egmond aan Zee, The Netherlands, where the sandy coastline is relatively uniform with a series of linear offshore sandbars. The second site at Teignmouth, Devon, is a complex 3D area, with a rocky headland, re-curved spit and estuary, and the beach is a mixture of sand and shingle. This site, in particular, will prove a demanding test for the coastal morphology models. A pilot study was conducted at Teignmouth in March 1999 and the main experiment began in October 1999.

Together with the University of Plymouth the consortium of participants in COAST 3D includes 11 institutions from the UK, The Netherlands, France, Belgium and Spain. The project is co-ordinated by R J Soulsby of HR Wallingford and further details can be found at http://www.hrwallingford.co.uk/projects/COAST3D/index.html .

The University of Plymouth's contribution is led by Professor David Huntley of the Institute of Marine Studies and Dr Paul Bird of the School of Civil and Structural Engineering; this School's contribution to the project will be to provide directional wave data using two different measuring systems:

  • Wave Recording System - an array of six seabed mounted pressure transducers, placed approximately 1000 m off shore.
  • Inshore Wave Recorder - a near-triangular array of five wave-piercing resistance staffs, placed in the inter-tidal zone.

Field data will be collected for a period of almost two months, ending in late November 1999.
Equipment Deployment

The inshore 'Wave Staff' array. Image by A R Tapp.

The surf zone IWR array at Teignmouth consists of 5 resistance sensors and a data acquisition unit which have been installed on the beach just above the level of low water on a spring tide. Each vertical staff sits on a heavy steel base plate which has been buried 0.5 m into the beach; guy wires keep the staffs vertical. Wave data is stored on the acquisition unit in non-volatile solid-state memory; at regular intervals a laptop computer is used to download the data for analysis.

* * * * *
Earlier in the year a dive team from the University carried out a reconnaissance dive on the site proposed for the offshore 'Wave Recording System' array; a gently undulating sandy seabed was found - ideal for the experiment but likely to cause some problems for a diver deploying equipment (eg poor visibility).

Pictured below are Stuart Jacques (dive supervisor), Dr Travis Mason (research fellow), Erik Van Wellen (diver) and Steve Edmonds (diver) aboard the University's diving RIB "Cobra".

The dive team for the reconnaisance dive (l-r: Stuart Jacques, Travis Mason, Erik Van Wellen, Steve Edmonds). Image by A R Tapp.

* * * * *
The offshore WRS array used at Teignmouth consists of 6 pressure transducers which were laid out on the seabed in a 3-legged configuration covering an area almost 40 m in diameter. Data from each transducer is collected by a central data aquisition unit; cables link each transducer to the central unit. The geometry of the array of transducers is critical to the subsequent directional analysis of the data - a positional accuracy of better than 100 mm was required.

The equipment was deployed using divers; the University has its own HSE Commercial Diving team who carried out this task. The deployment in Teignmouth was delayed by a couple of days due to rough weather; however a brief 2 day 'window' of good weather allowed the team to complete the job in good time for the start of the project.

Pictured below are members of the deployment team taking a well-earned break aboard Peter Stenner's boat "Spot On" which acted as 'host' to the dive team during its stay in Teignmouth (message to Pete and Chris from the diver team: "Thanks for the tea, coffee, soup and toast").

The dive team taking a break during the deployment of the offshore wave recorder array (l-r: Peter Rustage; Stuart Jacques, Travis Mason, Steve Edmonds, Andy Craig, Richard Gannon). Image by Tony Tapp
Research Fellow Dr Travis Mason was so keen to check that the HSE divers had set out the array of seabed equipment according to the plan that she volunteered to do a quick accompanied inspection dive on the array - "Everything looks OK" - the answer we all wanted to hear.

More Information and Pictures

Image map - more pictures. Click to Link.
If you would like more information on the COAST3D Teignmouth Project please contact Dr Andrew Chadwick.
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