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Aerial Survey Underway to Ensure Beach Erosion is Kept at Bay

Using aerial laser equipment, Dubai Municipality surveyed the seabed in 2004 and 2007, information it says will help in its efforts to ensure the waters remain navigable and mitigate erosion on its beaches.

The 2007 laser data showed a large build-up of earth just northeast of the Burj Al Arab. Giarrusso said municipality officials consolidated satellite imaging of the coast with the laser imaging and found the build-up was near Zabeel’s Porto Dubai.

Giarrusso said the municipality worked with Zabeel to remove the buildup and now regularly coordinates with developers to ensure constructions do not interfere with the coast in any unexpected way.

Porto Dubai is just one of several offshore developments that have reconstructed the face of Dubai’s shoreline in recent years.

These projects have increased the emirate’s shoreline from 75 kilometres to more than 1200, but have also made ocean current and beach erosion patterns unpredictable.

Sea currents track with the shamal winds from the north west, pushing sand along the shore. Dubai’s long stretches of beaches attract tourists to its luxurious hotels.

Erosion has threatened waterfront property in the past, wearing away at the beaches in front of Mina Seyahi in 2004 and the Sheraton in 2008, according to Giarrusso.

After severe Shamal winds last February, DM deposited rock and 15,000 cubic metres of sand to preserve the beach front.

The LIDAR is just one method of monitoring Dubai Municipality uses as it tries to grapple with the rapid pace of change along the emirate’s coast. It mounted three cameras on the Burj Al Arab to watch for rip currents and shoreline changes along the shore and has two under water radar monitors behind the world to measure the sea’s currents.

Giarrusso displayed ocean current data which showed that waves dramatically decrease in velocity as they approach the shore.

The waters confined within the breakers of developments like the World, Dubai Waterfront and the three palm constructions appear much calmer.

While the offshore developments are changing patters of erosion, Giarrusso said the data did not show an increased pace in erosion.

“Nearshore conditions change because the currents turn. It erodes, but the other way around. It is just change, it is change where ever you do any construction”

emily@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE