The nearshore zone, extending from the sub-aerial beach to water depths of about 10 to 15 meters (active beach profile), is of significant societal importance. Despite its proximity, the nearshore is a difficult domain to sample, under the morphologic point of view (bathymetry), particularly at high energetic coasts as is the Portuguese west coast.
The idea behind this research project proposal is to apply, develop and contribute to the development of complementary technologies and methodologies in order to endow the CESAM research laboratory with resources that will allow in the near future address a vast range of spatial and temporal scales of nearshore morphological characterization. Besides this kind of characterization related to swash and run-up processes, sediment transport and sediment budget estimation, beach erosion-accretion determination, frontal dune or artificial sand dike attack, overwash and inundation, the project will also contribute, in the future, to endow the researchers of the OMG group with a background knowledge that provide better conditions to attack funds in competitive national and international project proposals.