School of Civil and Structural Engineering - Staff Alumni

Updated: 28 May 2000

Alumni: Research Staff

Dr Travis Mason Dr Travis Mason
Tel: 01752 233664
Fax:
E-mail: tem@themail.co.uk

Introduction

1992: BSc Geography, King's College London.

1997: PhD Oceanography, University of Southampton.

1997 - 1999: University of Plymouth, School of Civil and Structural Engineering: Research Fellow, COAST 3D (MAST III European research project).

1999: Royal Naval College, Dartmouth

Whilst at Plymouth . . . .
COAST 3D
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 year project designed to remedy this lack, by conducting two extensive field campaigns to collect data with which a broad selection 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 - click here for more details.

The consortium of participants in COAST 3D includes 11 institutions from the UK, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Spain. The project is co-ordinated by R J Soulsby of HR Wallingford - click here to link to HR's web site. The University of Plymouth contribution is led by Professor D A Huntley of the Institute of Marine Studies. The School of Civil & Structural Engineering will provide directional wave data to the project, using two different measuring systems:

Wave Recording System: An array of seabed mounted pressure transducers.
Inshore Wave Climate Monitor: A near-triangular array of 5 wave-piercing resistance staffs, placed in the inter-tidal zone.

Other Research
My research interests include waves, currents and sediment transport on shingle and mixed (sand and shingle) beaches and the management issues involved with beach renourishment in the UK. Linked with this is research into the behaviour of beach groundwater, both on sand and shingle beaches, and the subsequent effect on sediment mobility. Much of this work has been in collaboration with other institutions, including the Universities of London and Sheffield, whilst a major source of field data was collected as part of the MAFF-funded UK Shingle Beach Study, managed by T T Coates of HR Wallingford.

Since leaving Plymouth . . .

Publications
Mason T, Voulgaris G, Simmonds D. J & Collins M. B. 1997. Hydrodynamics and sediment transport on composite (mixed sand/shingle) and sand beaches: a comparison. Coastal Dynamics '97, American Society of Civil Engineers; 48 - 57.
Baird A. J, Mason T & Horn D. P. 1997. Validation of a Boussinesq model of beach ground water behaviour. Marine Geology, 148; 55 - 69.

Coates T. T & Mason T. 1998. Development of predictive tools and design guidance for mixed beaches. HR Wallingford Report TR 56.

Mason T, Van Wellen E, & Chadwick A. J. 1999. Application of Bailard's energetics model for shingle sediment transport. Proceedings of Coastal Sediments '99, American Society of Civil Engineers; 907 - 921.

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Alumni: Research Staff
		Dr Travis Mason Tel: 01752 233664 Fax: E-mail: tem@themail.co.uk
Introduction 1992: BSc Geography, King's College London. 1997: PhD Oceanography, University of Southampton. 1997 - 1999: University of Plymouth, School of Civil and Structural Engineering: Research Fellow, COAST 3D (MAST III European research project). 1999: Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
Whilst at Plymouth . . . . COAST 3D 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 year project designed to remedy this lack, by conducting two extensive field campaigns to collect data with which a broad selection 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 - click here for more details. The consortium of participants in COAST 3D includes 11 institutions from the UK, Netherlands, France, Belgium and Spain. The project is co-ordinated by R J Soulsby of HR Wallingford - click here to link to HR's web site. The University of Plymouth contribution is led by Professor D A Huntley of the Institute of Marine Studies. The School of Civil & Structural Engineering will provide directional wave data to the project, using two different measuring systems: Wave Recording System: An array of seabed mounted pressure transducers. Inshore Wave Climate Monitor: A near-triangular array of 5 wave-piercing resistance staffs, placed in the inter-tidal zone. Other Research My research interests include waves, currents and sediment transport on shingle and mixed (sand and shingle) beaches and the management issues involved with beach renourishment in the UK. Linked with this is research into the behaviour of beach groundwater, both on sand and shingle beaches, and the subsequent effect on sediment mobility. Much of this work has been in collaboration with other institutions, including the Universities of London and Sheffield, whilst a major source of field data was collected as part of the MAFF-funded UK Shingle Beach Study, managed by T T Coates of HR Wallingford.
Since leaving Plymouth . . .
Publications Mason T, Voulgaris G, Simmonds D. J & Collins M. B. 1997. Hydrodynamics and sediment transport on composite (mixed sand/shingle) and sand beaches: a comparison. Coastal Dynamics '97, American Society of Civil Engineers; 48 - 57. Baird A. J, Mason T & Horn D. P. 1997. Validation of a Boussinesq model of beach ground water behaviour. Marine Geology, 148; 55 - 69. Coates T. T & Mason T. 1998. Development of predictive tools and design guidance for mixed beaches. HR Wallingford Report TR 56. Mason T, Van Wellen E, & Chadwick A. J. 1999. Application of Bailard's energetics model for shingle sediment transport. Proceedings of Coastal Sediments '99, American Society of Civil Engineers; 907 - 921.
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