System and method for prevention of beach erosion

Abstract

A system and method for prevention of erosion utilizing a sub-tidal platform designed to be lodged at a beachhead. The sub-tidal platform will be placed under water and will contain at least one or a plurality of main trusses exhibiting a curvilinear convex shape and containing a plurality of gates and at least one or a plurality of intermittent trusses exhibiting a curvilinear convex shape and containing a plurality of gates which, when in their closed position, decelerate material entrained with liquid and allow for deposit of said material in the spaces formed by the trusses.

1 . A method of preventing erosion and retaining sand on a newly re-nourished beach, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) identifying a site of an eroded beach ready planned to be re-nourished;   b) inspecting said site including profiling a beach;   c) conducting historical weather and storm studies;   d) conducting current, tidal action, and littoral current identification studies;   e) collecting and processing environmental data;   f) preparing models for testing comprising physical scale models and wave tank models based on data gathered from steps a-e above;   g) studying various installation configurations proscribed by steps a-f above;   h) designing structures to be installed in consideration of site specific conditions proscribed by step g;   i) fabricating structures and accompanying components to be installed, including a sub-tidal platform (STP) array;   j) installing said STP array and said accompanying components in preferred configuration as determined by step g;   k) installing monitoring equipment;   l) monitoring said STP array and accompanying components on a continual basis;   m) compiling a set of performance data; and,   n) building a predictive performance database.   
     
     
         2 . The method of preventing erosion and retaining sand on a newly re-nourished beach of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 utilizing a series of STP arrays comprising a series of main and intermittent trusses in tandem;   placing said series of STP arrays at a beachhead;   aligning said series of STP arrays such that the convex side of said gates are disposed away from an incoming flow of water; and,   disposing said STP arrays in at least one arcuate arrangement.   
     
     
         3 . The method of preventing erosion and retaining sand on a newly re-nourished beach of  claim 1  further comprising the step of orienting the STPs to perch a quantity of sand.