Scientific Environmental Applications, Inc.

Scientific Environmental Applications, Inc.

Projects

Geotechnical

Numerical Modeling

( GIS Services )

Ecological Services

GIS Services

REMOTE SENSING AND GIS

S.E.A. is experienced in the compilation and analysis of coastal geomorphic data in GIS software platforms. S.E.A. scientist developed a public domain ArcView™ extension that uses image analysis techniques to automatically map shorelines by extracting a polygon representation of the beach. This method can be used to rapidly extract shorelines from digital aerial imagery and compile a time series of shoreline position data in a minimum amount of time. The software, developed as an ArcViewTM3.x extension termed BEACHTOOLS, calculates transects from a baseline at any user defined interval, allowing for high frequency, shore perpendicular measurements of the wet/dry lines and vegetation lines. This offers flexibility since baseline positions and transect intervals can easily be changed and recalculated for the entire time-series of data.

The extension (Hoeke and Zarillo, 2000) is widely used by Federal agencies and private engineering firms to rapidly map shoreline changes in areas of concern as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

S.E.A. GIS is experienced with 3D visualization of sub-bottom reflectors and layering of topographic and survey patterns into a convenient database as shown in Figure 3.

In another GIS application depicted in Figure 4, vegetation communities are mapped using GIS for an ecological assessment of proposed land acquisition project in Brevard County, FL.

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Geomorphic Investigation of Tidal Inlets: Applications in Coastal Engineering, 2001-2007 (In Progress)

U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory
Dr. Zarillo developed methods to quantify morphologic changes at tidal inlets and associated navigational channels using remote sensing methods and numerical simulations. The project included case studies at federally maintained inlets as well as the production of remote sensing and modeling tools that can be applied to all tidal inlets and navigational channels. Coupled circulation and wave transformation models were applied to predict tide and wave generated currents on the inner continental shelf, at tidal inlets and in navigational channels. Model validation was performed by comparing model output to measured water surface elevations and current velocity data inside the bay. Calculated sand transport rates were compared to theoretical estimates of sediment transport calculated by the CERC Formula. Shoal development and relative movement of morphological features were reproduced in the model simulations.