Low Cost Options for Shore Protection

Jeffrey Havelin, P.E.

Course Outline

The purpose of this eleven- hour course is to familiarize engineers with various established methods of low cost shore protection. It is written for the individual who is knowledgeable in general civil engineering design and construction, but not a specialist in coastal engineering or shoreline protection.

In distinguishing between low cost and cheap, one should remember that practically any method of shore protection, if properly implemented, is expensive. Significant investments are required to achieve the durability needed to resist even small waves. Low cost simply means that the various measures are commensurate with the value of individual residential or commercial properties. The total cost of implementation will vary with the different alternatives, but in all cases, there should be a suitable (and affordable) range of solutions.

The methods described in this course are usually appropriate for use only in sheltered waters. That is, they are generally not intended for open coast sites where they would be exposed to the undiminished attack of large oceanic waves. Use of most of these structures in such areas is definitely not recommended and entails a considerable risk of failure.

This course is based entirely on "LOW COST SHORE PROTECTION ... A Guide for Engineers and Contractors" a publication provided by the US Army Corps of Engineers. This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials. You will be quizzed on the attached document in its entirety.

Learning Objective

This course will review various shoreline protection options including the following structures or features, and will review basic wave theory and shoreline processes.

• Seawalls;
• Breakwaters;
• Groins;
• Beach Fills;
• Vegetation for shoreline protection;
• Infiltration and Drainage Controls;
• Slope Flattening;
• Perched Beaches;
• Structures and Fills;
• Structures and Vegetation;
• Shoreline Processes;
• Characteristics of waves;
• Wave refraction and deflection;
• Common soil classification systems;
• Astronomical tides diurnal, semidiurnal, or mixed;
• Shoreform designations;
• Littoral Material Supply;
• Design criteria for protective filters;
• EOS designation of filter fabric;
• Flank protection;
• Wave runup heights for various structures;
• Marine borer activity;
• UV stabilized materials;
• Cantilever bulkheads, and anchored bulkheads;
• Hogwire Fencing and Stacked Bags;
• Longard tube bulkhead;
• Stacked tire bulkhead;
• Quarry stone rip-rap revetment;
• Concrete rubble revetment;
• Gobi (Erco) and Jumbo Blocks and Mats;
• Ercomat revetment;
• Terrafix block revetment;
• Grout filled mattress (Fabriform) revetment;
• Gabions; and
• Review of the Shoreline Processes.
  

Intended Audience

This course that would be very informative for engineers who are interested in learning more about shoreline protection.

Course Introduction

This course will review various methods, which can be used for shoreline protection. The course will also review basic wave theory and shoreline processes. Before developing a comprehensive solution for a client, it is first necessary to understand the coastal processes that are contributing to the erosion problem. This course presents basic information about shoreline processes that will serve as a technical foundation.

The methods described in this course are usually appropriate for use only in sheltered waters. That is, they are generally not intended for open coast sites where they would be exposed to the undiminished attack of large oceanic waves. Use of most of these structures in such areas
is definitely not recommended and entails a considerable risk of failure.

Course Content

This course is based entirely on the "LOW COST SHORE PROTECTION ... A Guide for Engineers and Contractors" a publication provided by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

The link to the course materials is as follows:

LOW COST SHORE PROTECTION ... A Guide for Engineers and Contractors

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.


Course Summary

At the completion of this class the design professional should understand the principles of shoreline protection.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

---

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

---