Quality Partnerships - The partnerships between coastal data collection and model development

Abstract

This paper highlights the value of the relationship between Griffith Centre for Coastal Management and DHI Water and Environment and their development of a robust, coastal data collection program. This program aligns the needs of the coastal modeller with the methodology and data collection to ensure desired outcomes are achieved. Coastal managers rely heavily on the use of computer models to both understand and predict the behaviour of the ocean and coastal waterways. Computer models are a very useful tool, however can be limited by the quality and quantity of the field data incorporated into the model. A strong relationship between those collecting the data and modellers applying the data is important to ensure that requirements are met and reliable models are developed. Griffith Centre for Coastal Management and DHI Water and Environment are collaborating on a series of projects with the final aim of developing robust, computer models. The Seaway SmartRelease Project involved the development of a hydrodynamic and advection-dispersion model using the MIKE suite of software. These were developed to model and predict the extent of the recycled water plume on entry into the Gold Coast Seaway. Extensive data was collected over three field trips including up to 11 hours of water quality samples and a series of current data profiles collected across the Seaway Channel. Additionally short term current data was collected through the deployment of a series of acoustic Doppler current profilers within the Seaway channel. The team of researchers and modellers worked closely to ensure the most appropriate data collection methods were employed. With the success of this award winning project, GCCM and DHI are now working together to develop a coastal process model, using MIKE21 and LITPACK, for specific sections of the Gold Coast's beaches. This will include a sediment transport model and a wave model, both focussing on the nearshore zone where limited data is currently available.