This page contains a brief description of our current and past research projects. Where available click the link for further information.
Current Research
FLOCSAM (2008-2011) (Prof Chris Vincent, Mr Iain MacDonald)
The NERC-funded FLOCSAM project is investigating the long-standing and scientifically-challenging problem of how sound responds to muddy sediments and develop, through a combination of theory and experiment, algorithms capable of quantitatively inverting acoustic backscatter signals from cohesive sediment to predict mass concentration, and to combining these with the best features of optical sensors. The theoretical component of this study will build on the existing experience with backscatter models from non-cohesive sediment (sand) and developments will be informed by the tank, flume and field results. Partners are the University of Plymouth and the Proudman Oceanographic Labs.
Royal Society UK/Russia (Prof Chris Vincent)
A collaborative project with Professor Ruben Kosyan examining the synchronous measurements of suspended sediment concentration and components of water velocity in the near-bottom layer made in the Large Wave Channel (Hannover, Germany) in 1999, 2006 and 2007 by British and Russian scientists under a wide range of waves in near natural conditions. Mathematical models of the time-averaged and intra-wave distribution of suspended sediment in the surf zone have been developed, based on clear physical principles.
Recent Research
BLINKS (Prof. Chris Vincent, Dr Tony Dolphin, Ms Clare Coughlan)
NERC-funded BLINKS (Beach LINKs to Sandbanks) is a research project investigating the "Impacts of Near-shore Sandbank Mobility on Beaches". The overall aim of the project is to improve our understanding of the linkages between beach condition (e.g., beach width) and the position and shape of nearshore sandbanks. It is a long-held view that changes on the sandbanks affect the state of adjacent beaches, but as yet there are no available measurements to support the idea. The measurements we conduct will help to improve our understanding of the bank-beach relationships and will be valuable to coastal managers & planners. In collaboration with Jon Rees and Dr Piers Larcombe, CEFAS, Lowestoft.
LEACOAST-2 (Prof. Chris Vincent, Dr Tony Dolphin, Dr John Bacon)
LEACOAST-2 addressed the knowledge gaps identified in LEACOAST with wider aims and objectives focussing on time and space-scales appropriate for shore-line management plans, and on providing results that are of generic value for the coastal environment. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the generic effects of shore-parallel breakwaters in tidal conditions on coastal morphology on scales of kilometres and years, using a combination of deterministic and probablistic morphological modelling and new hydrodynamic and morphological data. The study focused on the nine segmented shore-parallel breakwaters at Sea Palling, Norfolk.
LEACOAST (2002-2005) (Prof. Chris Vincent, Dr Jon Taylor, Dr Tony Dolphin, Mr John Bacon)
Impacts of Shore-Parallel Reefs at Sea Palling. A continuing study of the effects of the construction of 9 shore-parallel breakwaters and associated beach nourishment, to protect the sea wall, dunes and hinterland around Sea Palling from damage and flooding during storm surges.
SECOAS (Prof. Chris Vincent, Ms Hyobong Park)
SECOAS is the Self-Organising Collegiate Sensor Network Project. SECOAS aims to investigate a range of novel and emerging technologies needed to create self-organising networks of microcontrollers, integrate the best ideas into a sensor network, and prove that the network can be used by scientists to meet the needs of a dynamic and challenging sensing application. The project is Department of Trade and Industry funded under the Next Wave Technologies and Markets (NWTM) program.
SANDPIT (2002-2005) (Prof. Chris Vincent, Dr Tony Dolphin, Dr Adam Leadbetter)
European Commission Research Directorate-General Contract No. EVK3-CT-2001-00056
The general objective of the SANDPIT project is to develop reliable prediction techniques and guidelines to better understand, simulate and predict the morphological behaviour of large-scale sand mining pits/areas and the associated sand transport processes at the middle and lower shoreface and the surrounding coastal zone. A balance is established between ‘basic research of physical processes’, including experimental research and mathematical modelling, and the ‘development of practical engineering models’ to be used in daily coastal zone management. Project Co-ordinator Prof. Dr. Leo van Rijn, Delft Hydraulics, The Netherlands.
ECHO-MUD (2002-2003) (Prof. Chris Vincent, Dr Duncan James)
An NERC-funded laboratory and field study of the measurement of concentration of suspended mud.
TRIDISMA (1996-1999) (Prof. Chris Vincent, Dr Jon Taylor)
An EC MAST 3 collaborative project to design, construct and test a prototype instrument to measure the profiles of sediment transport close to the sea bed using non-intrusive acoustic methods. The instrument measures the size and concentration of the suspended sediment using multi-frequecy backscatter, the u and v components of velocity (transverse to the beam) using acoustic correlation and the w velocity (along beam) using coherent Doppler. The instrument has been tested in the Delft Hydraulics wave tunnel at De Voorst and in the field at a site on the East Coast of the UK.
NICOP
An international collaborative research program on small-scale physical processes of sediment transport funded by the US Office of Naval Research.
HANNOVER'99 (1999)
A laboratory study of small-scale sand resuspension processes under prototype-scale waves, funded by an EC TMR and NICOP conducted in the Large Wave Flume (FZK) at Hannover during July-September 1999.
SANDY DUCK (1997)
A multinational study of response of beach at DUCK, N Carolina to waves and storms.
During Duck 94 suspended sand concentrations were measured during storms at 4 m depth using high-frequency acoustic backscatter (ABS) instrumentation (with University of Florida, Gainesville). Similar measurements were made during Sandy Duck (97) but with further acoustic sensors to measure the bedform dimensions (a 64 transducer static array known as the MTA and a rotating scanning system) to show the effects of bedforms and bedform variability on suspension. Also during Sandy Duck (97) the UEA ABSs were mounted on tripods belonging to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and deployed at 10-12m depth as part of an investigation of the influences of shelf-wide forcing on sand transport.
