Real-Time Coastal Wave Monitoring

The coastal ocean is a challenging environment for electronic instrumentation. Nature attacks with storm waves, shoaling, scour, corrosion and biological growth. On shore, extreme temperature, humidity, and lightning can destroy standard electronics in short order. Civil Tek's real-time solution has been refined through a process of continual improvement. Today Civil Tek's real-time wave data solution has been proven in site after site. Our customers tell us that it is the most reliable and maintenance-free available. Civil Tek does not believe in cutting corners in the design and manufacture of it's instrumentation. We work closely with contractors and national laboratories who know that the cost of even one maintenance visit far exceeds any savings from using cheaply built instruments.

The Wave Watch subsurface pressure wave gages can support long-term real-time wave gage requirements. Whether you require data for a single project, or a national wave measurement program, we can provide the technology and expertise you need. Working with your marine instrumentation contractor or your field support group, we have everything from the Wave Watch wave gages to trawler resistant pods, cables and shore boxes. Our wave gages output analyzed wave data and we can provide the services you need to get your data on the Web in real-time.

All of our real-time gages can be configured to record data internally simultaneous with real-time reporting. The long-term backup recording capability can provide a year or more of continuous recording that helps capture important events that cause interruption to real-time access.

Long -Term Internal Recording

Civil Tek's long term recording capability and zero-maintenance design provide low operating costs by eliminating expensive service trips. For sites with short annual weather windows, year-long recording duration provides the ability to capture severe winter events.

Process Model Calibration and Verification

The WW3D directional wave gage provides all of the basic parameters required for coastal process models (Hs, Tp, Dir, h). Unlike data logger instruments, the WW3D stores calibrated, analyzed data. By analyzing the data the WW3D does not need to compromise on record lengths and recording interval. The WW3D analyzes half-hour long records for statistical stability every hour. The hourly sampling provides high resolution of water levels and the peaks of storm wave events. Low cost, year long data sets capture the seasonal variability critical for process model verification.

Structure Monitoring

Experience shows that when structures fail, the failure often occurs a few years after construction. Establishing the actual wave height exposure at failure is the most costly and disputed aspect of post-failure analysis. Civil Tek's long duration recording instruments can provide undisputed data at a much lower cost than hind-casts and simulations. Real objective data is important for protecting the interests of design engineers, insurers, and owners.

Dredge Disposal Monitoring

Wave Watch instruments can be combined with environmental sensors and current meters to provide comprehensive monitoring of dredge disposal sites. The natural durability and survivability of the WW pressure sensors provide a low maintenance solution compared to the capillary tube and exposed metal diaphragm pressure sensors used in ADCP gages. Wave Watch sensors don't clog when exposed to fine sediments and still function even buried under sand.

Harbor Wave Monitoring

Minimizing long period waves is important for safe mooring of container ships and RoRo vessels. Measurement of harbor waves requires long data records and special analysis procedures to remove the influence of tide. Civil Tek's WW1D can be configured to provide the long data records and long period wave analysis.

Storm Surge Monitoring

Accurate measurement of storm surge on the open coast is important for calibration and verification of storm surge models. Civil Tek's Wave Watch instruments are available with a bottom mounted pod specially designed for survival and vertical stability. Long duration recording and a proven record of successful data return from hurricanes and northeaster's make the Wave Watch the professional's choice for storm surge monitoring.