SANDS Beach Profile Analysis
Beach Profile data recorded during surveys can be imported into SANDS for analysis. Once imported, SANDS can be used to check, view, edit and analyse this data. There are several different methods of analysing beach profile data in SANDS.
The first of these methods are profile analysis ‘by Chainage’ and profile analysis 'by Level'. The ‘Chainage’ analysis method works by dividing the profile into vertical sections. SANDS will then calculate what the beach level is at each chainage. The ‘level’ method of analysis analyses changes in chainage at certain levels. SANDS will calculate what the chainage is at each pre-specified level. In other words, this analysis looks at horizontal strips of the profile.
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In addition to the standard beach profile analysis above, SANDS is able to relate beach profiles to a ‘master profile’. This ‘master profile’ could be a rock or clay bed layer underneath the beach material. SANDS will then calculate the cross-sectional areas in relation to the ‘master profile’, that can then be plotted as a time series of area change over time, and so automatically producing a trend line. In addition to this, it is possible to enter figures for alarm and crisis volumes. SANDS will then highlight any surveys that fall into these limits.
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SANDS also has a ‘Beach Profile Editor’ that enables the user to edit and/or move beach profiles that may have been imported to the wrong location.
The SANDS help system also contains information on 'Foreshore Change Mode Classification' to assist in analysing beach profile changes. Note this is currently only descriptive text for reference only, no calculation or analysis exists to automatically calculate this at present.
A recent SANDS development now enables the ability to group together beach profiles into coastal process units and calculate volumes of beach material in relation to a master profile. Further details of this new function can be found in the Volumetric Analysis section.
SANDS modules
SANDS key uses
- Coastal data storage
- Erosion and accretion analysis
- Beach and structure inspection reports
- Area and volumetric analysis
- Tidal analysis and prediction
- Wind/wave extremes analysis
- Probability analysis
- Wave transformation
- Sediment transport
