Fiscal Year	2008
Division	Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department	Oceanography
Investigator(s)	MacMahan, James H.
Sponsor	University of Delaware (Other)
Summary	Bridge pier scour is a common problem that occurs in riverine and tidal environments. One of the most noticeable and rapidly changing locations of bridge scour under tidal influence occurs in the Indian River Inlet Bridge (IRIB) in Sussex County, Delaware. This collaborative project seeks to monitor the scour hole edge seaward of the IRIB piers. Typical bathymetry monitoring of the inlet occurs on multi-year time scales and does not allow for rapid, short-term processes to be realized in the broader context of long-term variability. In addition, lack of short-term scour hole information makes it difficult for managers and engineers to make informed decisions about bridge stability and safety. In this joint research effort, the collaborators main goal is to overcome the lack of short-term information by installing a near real-time monitoring system that will image the sea bed adjacent to the bridge piers. In addition, current meter data will yield critical forcing conditions that can be related to scour hole variability. The resulting data can be used to make informed management decisions and develop appropriate plans of action.
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Publications	Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data	Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal