Satellite data to save Dubai beaches

The information collected since 2000 from beaches along the Dubai coast, engineers from the Coastal Management Section at Dubai Municipality now know what to expect from waves and currents and which areas need the most protection.

Satellite images regularly acquired by the GIS Centre of Dubai Municipality along with field measurements are good indicators to monitor the speed of erosion, to identify critical areas subject to erosion and to eventually plan and design shoreline management measures that will have to take into account future offshore development.

Using advanced technology, a laser (LiDAR data) from a plane is passed across the coastal zone, measuring around 1,000 sq km. The high resolution survey shows underwater sea-bed features like sand dunes or sand bypassing breakwaters.

Real-time measurements of wind and wave speed, wave height and wave direction, air and water temperatures as well as water level and seabed contours is available on the newly restructured Coastal Monitoring website, www.dubaicoast.ae, to help municipality engineers monitor what the sea is doing. The site is also used by contractors as well as by beachgoers and kite surfers who rely on the 30-minute feeds for wind and wave conditions. The data is collected using Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP).

Construction sites within one kilometre inland from the shore automatically fall under the authority of the coastal management section of Dubai Municipality. Sand dug up at the construction sites is moved to the beaches as part of the nourishment scheme.

Two cameras have been positioned on the 17th floor of the Burj Al Arab facing opposite directions to help monitor the coastline. Visuals of the waves lapping at the shore provide engineers with a better idea of the average shoreline. Years of footage has enabled the engineers get a clear idea how far the waves move forward.

Vladimir Shein, a senior surveyor and project manager working with consultant firm Dome International, said the images are sent automatically to www.dubaicoast.org for internet surfers to monitor the waves.

In future, nine more cameras will be positioned along the coastline from Dubai creek to Dubai Marina. At Jumeirah Open Beach, a radio receiver on the meteorological tower captures all the data sent by the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP).

Source : http://www.gulfnews.com