In this paper, I report on the use of geographic information systems as a highly efficient tool in modeling wind-transported sand along sandy beaches. Programming with Visual Basic in ArcGIS reduces time and represents results easily on spatial maps. The study area is located in the southwestern part of Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a long shoreline extending about 180 km on the Gulf of Suez. Representative sand samples were collected along the study area, and beach and wind records were derived from the El-Tor meteorological station. Sand samples were mechanically analyzed, and wind data were classed in order to allow wind direction and intensity analysis. Aster images at 15-m resolution were processed for coastline measurements. Kadib formula components were subjected to Visual Basic code to modulate the wind-transported sand landward and seaward along the Qaa Plain with the use of ArcGIS software. The study area is characterized by an excess of annual landward transport of sand than seaward transport, depending on the wind energy and direction, along with the orientation of the beach segments rather than the length of each coast segment. Also, the study area is characterized by greater amounts of sand collected northward than southward.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 July 2008
GIS-Based Modeling of Wind-Transported Sand on the Qaa Plain Beach, Southwestern Sinai, Egypt
Ahmed M. Wahid
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
Journal of Coastal Research
Vol. 2008 • No. 244
July 2008
Vol. 2008 • No. 244
July 2008
digitizing
geodatabase
GIS
perpendicular projection
Qaa Plain
scripting
shear velocity