The BERMS project focuses on the study of sandy beaches through an integrated approach combining sedimentological, compositional, geomorphological, geophysical, and ecological investigations. Beaches are complex environments where natural processes interact with human activities, requiring the application of diverse Earth Science methodologies to study their spatial and temporal evolution.
This research aims to propose a standardized procedure for monitoring wave-dominated sandy beaches and assessing their susceptibility to erosion in both quantitative and semi-quantitative terms.
The opportunity to obtain quantitative data by combining innovative and traditional technologies within a single methodological framework represents a significant advancement of interest to the scientific community, as existing literature on beach monitoring techniques predominantly focuses on geomorphological, sedimentological, or engineering methods in isolation. Furthermore, the BERMS project aims to address the growing need to resolve conflicts between environmental conservation and the social and economic use of beaches.
The BERMS project focuses on the following scientific aims and expected outcomes:
assessing the contribution of physical and biological processes to beach sediment supply, and measuring the sediment thickness above the bedrock (and its variation over time) from the dune area to the offshore zone;
providing a comprehensive analysis of sediment dynamics;
describing the textural and compositional variations of both the emerged and submerged beach sands along longitudinal and cross-shore profiles;
investigating the source of bioclastic sediments quantitatively, with the aim of mapping the habitats in the emerged and submerged beach sectors and defining their stability classes;
proposing a semi-quantitative model for sediment distribution and identifying areas susceptible to erosion;
comparing the models of the three test areas (the selected beaches) to identify causes of erosion and potential mitigation strategies;
establishing guidelines for appropriate procedures in various application contexts;
proposing a standard methodology for monitoring the evolution of sandy beaches dominated by storm-waves
BERMS- Beach EnviRonMentS: towards a holistic approach for the study of sandy beaches
Finanziamento dell’Unione Europea – NextGenerationEU – missione 4, componente 2, investimento 1.1. - PRIN22PNRR - P2022WNCEC - CUPH53D23011410001
About BERMS