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Presented by: Ocean Safety and Lifeguard
Services Division |
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Develop a comprehensive, standardized and
scientific beach information resource for Hawaii beaches |
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Location |
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Physical characteristics |
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Access |
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Facilities |
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Usage |
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Rescues |
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Physical Hazards |
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Biological hazards |
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Level of public risk under various wave, tide
and weather conditions |
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increase public awareness |
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residents and visitors |
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information accessible via internet |
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additional CDs distributed |
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Coastal Geology Group (CGG), University of
Hawaii |
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Professor Andrew D. Short, University of Sydney,
AU |
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Data on each beach is acquired from a range of
interrelated sources: |
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Field Survey
– Professor Short. |
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Imagery – Coastal Geology Group |
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GIS layers |
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– City and County |
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of Honolulu |
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GIS layers |
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– State of Hawaii |
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Beach conditions |
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– Hawaiian |
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Lifeguard |
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Association |
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Field survey conducted |
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New ground photography and oblique photography
acquired |
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Between 2003 and 2004 |
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Cessna plane at 2000 ft with window open |
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Beach hazard rating values developed by
Professor Short |
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used Excel spreadsheet |
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based on first appraisal from field trip |
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Physical descriptions and beach hazards written
by Professor Short |
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Oahu and Maui shorelines |
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Beach hazards described using method developed
by the Australian Beach Safety & Management Program (ABSAMP) |
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Definition: elements of beach environment
that expose the public to danger or harm |
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water depth (deep and shallow), |
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breaking waves, |
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variable surf zone topography, |
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surf zone currents (rip currents) |
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Rates beach according to the hazards associated
with its shape and natural wave and current conditions. |
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To provide an effective method of scientifically
rating both the average and prevailing hazards on |
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each
beach, for the |
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range
of conditions |
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that
each beach may |
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experience. |
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Rating range |
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1 = least hazardous |
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10 = extremely hazardous |
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Two types of ratings assigned: |
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Shoreline Rating extending across beach to 150
feet offshore |
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Outer Rating referring to conditions further
than 150 feet from shore, usually out on the reef or reef breaks |
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Rating determined by |
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a
wave height and |
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shoreline type matrix |
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Individually adjusted using local factors |
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Particularly nature of associated
fringing/barrier reefs: |
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Factors increasing rating - higher local waves,
more channels and rips through reef |
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Factors decreasing rating - lower local waves,
continuous or deeper reef (no rips) |
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Submission of Professor Short’s information to
CGG |
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Beach descriptions |
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Shoreline data |
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Digital images |
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Processing by CGG |
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Generation of GIS layers |
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Assessment of hazards |
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Data distribution |
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Additional information provided by Hawaiian
Lifeguard Association |
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Locations of major rip currents and surf breaks |
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Other natural and cultural features relevant to
water safety |
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Adjacent shoreline features included |
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available for download and printing in
high-resolution format through internet and CDs. |
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A description for every beach on O’ahu |
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Each beach provided with associated information |
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Developed beach information resource for O’ahu
and Maui |
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Comprehensive and standardized |
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Scientific basis |
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Generation of user-friendly website making
information accessible to public |
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Beach descriptions |
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Hazard summaries |
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High resolution images |
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Incorporate other counties |
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Provide increasingly detailed information on
most popular beaches |
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Integrate live weather and surf information into
Beach Hazard Ratings |
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Develop dynamic maps, beach data, beach hazard
ratings and beach images via the web. |
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Project Website: www.soest.hawaii.edu/coasts/OceanSafety/ |
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Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division: http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/esd/oceansafety/index.htm |
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Coastal Geology Group: http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/coasts/cgg_main.html |
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Hawaiian Lifeguard Association: http://www.aloha.com/%7Elifeguards/hla.html |
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Australian Beach Safety & Management Program
http://www.slsa.asn.au/doc_display.asp?document_id=102 |
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Notes
