Category Archives: Coastal / Beach Support
Degrove Surveyors was recently awarded an annual-type, continuing services contract with Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) in Alachua County, Florida. The contract will last for three years, with a possible renewal of a second three-year period, for a potential total of six years of service. Degrove will be providing GRU with professional surveying and mapping services, as well as subsurface utility location, on an as-needed basis to support GRU projects.
Degrove is proud of our longstanding presence in Gainesville and Alachua County. We look forward to continuing to develop a positive, professional relationship with Gainesville Regional Utilities.
Degrove was retained by Turnbull Environmental, Inc. to support the reconstruction of the Summer Haven River and adjacent beach and dune system in southeastern St. Johns County, Florida between Marineland on the south and the Matanzas River on the north. Barrier island overwash has historically been a problem in Summer Haven, in 2008 Tropical Storm Fay produced an overwash and a breach at Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Range Monument 200 (R-200). The breach allowed sediment to eventually fill the river with beach sand in the vicinity of Summer Haven. From 2009 to 2010 a dry beach developed within the Summer Haven River, inhibiting the flow of the river from just east of the A1A Bridge to approximately monument R-203. As a result approximately 300,000 cy of sand that has been deposited in the river will be excavated and placed within the beach and dune fill template between monuments R-200 and R-208. An additional element to the project has been added as a result of the impact of Hurricane Matthew that occurred in October of 2016. Multiple breaches of the beach occurred, the largest of which is approximately 150-feet wide and 10-feet in depth. We have completed a survey of the breach to assist in plugging it. Hurricane Matthew has either cut off access to or destroyed many structures in Summer Haven. We will be performing construction staking and surveys for measurement and payment, as well as topographic and hydrographic surveys for further design.
While in the early stages of the Duval County Beach Nourishment Project being undertaken by the Corps and local governments, hurricane Matthew struck the coast. Before continuing the project, Degrove was tasked with providing a survey to assess the loss of beach sand. This survey was accomplished within two days. Based on the survey data the beach template was redesigned and construction has continued.
Degrove, a long time supporter of the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association (FSBPA), was invited to attend the 2015 Technical Conference as the Featured Exhibitor. In addition to our typical presence in the exhibit hall, Degrove was given the opportunity to give a brief presentation at the Conference in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The presentation focused on two things that make Degrove a superior asset to any coastal project requiring survey support: our team and our project experience. Our team of professional surveyors and certified hydrographers offer a diverse level of expertise that is rarely found in a single, small business survey firm. These team leaders, combined with our diverse project experience, provide assurance that Degrove maintains not only an ability to provide the services, but an elevated level of expertise in coastal surveying.
Degrove Surveyors recently completed a multibeam hydrographic survey for the NAVFAC Underwater Electro-Magnetic Measurement System (UEMMS) Type VI Upgrade Project at Naval Station Mayport in Mayport, Florida. This project upgraded an existing Type V magnetic measurement range.
Degrove completed the post-construction survey of the one-half square mile project area, located on the river bottom of the Naval Station Mayport ship channel in the St. Johns River. The survey was used to detect any small shoals, lumps, or areas above the navigation channel limit of -50 feet MLLW that may require the contractor to send down additional divers to rake the area.
Due to the high accuracy requirement of this survey, Degrove utilized the state-of-the-art R2Sonic 2024 multibeam system, along with dual-antenna RTK GPS for positioning and a CODA Octopus F175 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) for motion detection. We employed this system on our 26’ SeaArk survey vessel with twin 150 horsepower engines. Patch tests and performance tests were completed within days of the survey to ensure that all offsets and calibrations were correct. A sound velocity probe was mounted at the multibeam transducer to account for real time changes in sound velocity, and full sound velocity profiles were taken every two hours. Accurate measurement of the sound velocity was especially critical on this project due to the dynamic water conditions near the mouth of the river, as well as the water depth.
Maps were produced showing one foot contour intervals and dense spot elevations. Degrove delivered hard copy maps as well as electronic CAD files.
Degrove Surveyors, as part of our continuing services contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, is near completion of a hydrographic and topographic survey for beach monitoring in Duval County, Florida. The survey area includes nearly 11 miles of coastline, from the St. Johns River Inlet at Mayport, southerly to the northern part of St. Johns County. Survey data was achieved from the Coastal Construction Line on the landward side, out to 3,000 feet offshore.
Topographic field crews utilized RTK GPS to attain data onshore and out to a safe wading depth at low tide. Hydrographic data was collected in Degrove’s 26-foot SeaArk. Nearshore hydrographic data was achieved at high tide, helping to ensure overlap in the topographic and hydrographic data. The vessel is equipped with RTK GPS for positioning and heading, an electronic transducer and fathometer for soundings, and a motion reference unit (MRU) for determining heave corrections which are applied in the post-processing of the hydrographic data.
The Corps of Engineers completes these monitoring surveys on an annual basis. This is the fifth time Degrove has surveyed Duval’s beach in recent years. We have completed surveys similar to this in many Florida counties on both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Information is used to aid in planning beach renourishment.
Pictured above: Degrove’s Hydrographic Manager, Ray Niles, PSM, CH, operates the survey vessel to achieve hydrographic data near the Jacksonville Beach Pier (seen in background).
Since November, Degrove Surveyors has been providing continuous and ongoing survey support for the Brevard County Beach Renourishment Project managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District. The project area encompasses 11 miles of beach, and is anticipated to conclude May 1, 2014. Degrove is completing pre-construction and post-construction topographic / hydrographic surveys, and providing the Corps with surface modeling and volume calculations for pay quantities. Due to the nature of the project, our team has had to provide information to the Corps seven days a week, including holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Further details on the project are included in the following excerpt from Brevard County’s website (current as of 02-11-2014), which can also be found here:
North Reach – Cape Canaveral / Cocoa Beach
The US Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company (GLDD) to renourish 7 miles of the Brevard County Shore Protection Project’s North Reach to counter erosion caused by Hurricane Sandy. GLDD will place approximately 1 million cubic yards of sand along the shoreline between Cheri Down Park in Cape Canaveral and Surf Road in Cocoa Beach (the Northern North Reach) and between 3rd Street North and the northern limit of Patrick AFB (the Southern North Reach). Work in the Northern North Reach began January 28, 2014, however due to equipment maintenance, sand placement is temporarily on hold. We estimate dredging operations will resume on February 16th. Work in the Southern North Reach is expected to begin around March 21, 2014. The sand will be dredged from Canaveral Shoals, an offshore borrow area located approximately six miles east of Cape Canaveral. All beach work will be completed by May 1, 2014. The remainder of the North Reach shoreline between Surf Road and 3rd Street North has remained stable and will not receive sand. Construction funding for the project is 100% federal. Check back soon for more project details or click here to read the project history.
South Reach – Indialantic / Melbourne Beach
The US Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a contract to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company (GLDD) to renourish the 3.8 mile South Reach of the Brevard County Shore Protection Project to counter erosion caused by Hurricane Sandy. Sand placement began north of Fifth Avenue, Indialantic on November 27, 2013. GLDD will place approximately 585,500 cubic yards of sand along the shoreline between Flug Avenue in Indialantic and Spessard Holland Park. Equipment is currently being staged on a Town lot east of Ocean Terrace in Indialantic. The sand will be dredged from Canaveral Shoals, an offshore borrow area located approximately six miles east of Port Canaveral. All work will be completed by May 1, 2014. Construction funding for the project is 100% federal. Check back soon for more project details or click here to read the project history.
Degrove crew chief setting up robotic total station in renourishment area.
Dredge is seen here on the horizon.
Degrove’s wader preparing to enter the surf zone to capture topographic data.
End of the pipe that delivers sand to the area being renourished.
Degrove Surveyors is currently supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection by completing Hydrographic/Topographic Surveys for beach monitoring in South Florida. Surveys are being performed at Pompano Beach and Bal Harbour Beach in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, respectively. Beach profile lines are being surveyed from the Coastal Construction Line, marked by construction control monuments, easterly 3,000 feet into the ocean. Field crews on the ground are utilizing RTK GPS to achieve topographic data on the beach, from the Coastal Construction control monuments to the maximum depth that can be waded.
The hydrographic data is being achieved through the use of two Degrove survey vessels: a 14-foot aluminum hull, inflatable pontoon boat with a 40hp outboard engine, and a 26-foot aluminum SeaArk with an enclosed cabin and twin 150hp outboards. The inflatable pontoon boat, having a very shallow draft, is being used to overlap the topographic data and survey the near-shore portions of the profile lines. The SeaArk is being used to survey the remaining length of the survey lines. Overlapping data is used as a quality control check to ensure a consistent surface is being achieved. Both vessels are equipped with RTK GPS for positioning and heading, electronic transducers and fathometers for soundings, and a motion reference unit (MRU) for determining heave corrections which are applied in the post-processing of the hydrographic data. Hydrographic cross lines are surveyed perpendicular to the profile lines at each site as an additional quality control check. In Miami-Dade County, an offshore borrow area is also being surveyed as part of the project.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) works with the Army Corps of Engineers annually to complete these surveys to monitor beach erosion. This data is used for planning and to determine when beach renourishment will be completed.
Pictured above: Degrove’s 32-foot SeaArk at Pompano Beach in Broward County.
Degrove’s 14-foot inflatable pontoon boat which was used to achieve near-shore hydro data. Pompano Beach in background.
Processing laptop and fathometer as positioned in the 26-foot vessel.
Degrove Surveyors recently attended the Florida Shores and Beaches Preservation Association’s (FSBPA) Annual Technical Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Ray Niles and Tyler Tracz attended and represented Degrove in the exhibit hall. With various engineers, surveyors, scientists, and public officials present, the exhibit hall provided an excellent opportunity to dialogue on the many issues affecting Florida’s shores and beaches. Degrove was honored to be present among such an impressive and diverse group of professionals. Degrove highlighted the many survey services we offer that support beach/shore monitoring and preservation efforts—particularly the hydrographic surveying and multibeam services. Degrove appreciated the opportunity to reconnect with friends who share our interest in the preservation of Florida’s beaches.
Further information on Degrove’s survey support for beach and shore preservation projects can be viewed here.
Degrove Surveyors attended the annual Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA) Conference in Charleston, South Carolina, and also contributed as an exhibitor. The conference was held at the historic Francis Marion Hotel in downtown Charleston from November 13-14. Attending for Degrove were Randy Tompkins and Tyler Tracz. Mr. Tompkins and Mr. Tracz attended a variety of sessions given by representative’s from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and a variety of local and state representatives. In the exhibit hall, Degrove had the opportunity to highlight our diverse capabilities, particularly regarding single-beam and multi-beam hydrographic surveying. We were excited for the opportunity to attend this conference, and we thank the staff of AIWA for their efforts which made the 2012 Conference such a success.
Degrove looks forward to attending future AIWA events and being active members of the Association.
For more information regarding AIWA and the work they do, please visit their website:
