12.3.1 Coastal beach profiles (RICODA profiles)

Database Title	12.3.1 Coastal beach profiles (RICODA profiles)
Keywords Type1. Type 11.	Coastal; physical processes; erosion; Beach profiles; Coromandel Peninsula
Abstract	This is a dataset of the profiles of coastal beaches derived primarily from terrestrial surveying with limited offshore echo soundings. The information is primarily used to determine the cut and fill envelopes for Eastern Coramandel beaches. Surveys have been generally infrequent and focus on periods of extreme erosion or accretion. There are a limited number of surveys undertaken each year at selected sites. Council is working with NIWA to develop quantitative video monitoring techniques. This is likely to provide more spatially and temporally comprehensive information on beach changes and is likely to displace the beach profile network.
Geographical Coverage	Predominantly beaches of Eastern Coromandel Peninsula
Dataset start date.	1981
Dataset end date.	In progress
Status/currency.	Current
Update frequency.	2-3 surveys per year between 1981-1990; since 1990 most sites have been surveyed at least once every 2 years and some sites every 2 years.
Maintenance.	Environment Waikato. The data set has recently been merged with a NIWA data set for the same sites. This database is likely to be replaced in the near future and the data stored in an alternative database

Technical Evaluation
Parameters- what is measured	Height and distance from datum
Parameters- what is calculated	Change in beach profile (i.e. loss or gain of sand)
Methods used to measure parameters	Survey of sites by level and other methods (e.g. Emery pole) from established beach markers. Transects are generally less than 200m. At some sites echo sounding data is collected for up to 2km offshore. Spacing of profiles along the beach is determined by potential damage to properties on the frontal dune.
Scale of use.	Relatively detailed
Number of records	Unknown
GIS compatibility.	The survey area is spatially referenced using the NZ Map Grid; x,y,z co-ordinates are not available for most sites.
Available formats for users.	Digital; printed graphs;
Access constraints.	There are restrictions on access to the NIWA data.
Measurement Accuracy	To be completed by database manager.
Completeness of dataset	To be completed by database manager.
Positional accuracy	To be completed by database manager.
Database steward	Environment Waikato
Database custodian	Environment Waikato
Database custodian contact person	Environment Information Desk
Database custodian Contact Address Phone Fax Email	401 Grey St. Hamilton East +64 7 856 7184 +64 7 856 0551 inforeq@wairc.govt.nz
References	-
Date metadata record prepared.	June 2000
Author of metadata record.	Victoria Froude

Management Evaluation
Original purpose.	To improve understanding of the nature and scale of shoreline movements for various coastal management purposes, including monitoring of coastal erosion hazards.
Relationships with classification systems.	N/A
Relationships with other databases	Merged with NIWA dataset for the same sites.
Database uses?	Council staff
Database strengths.	Older data is being checked The methodology and procedures are being modified to improve the utility of the data
Database limitations.	There is inadequate data for the main purpose of the current monitoring (establishing the cut and fill envelope for Eastern Coromandel beaches) because the data set lacks measurements taken after severe storms. Much of the older data from the Hauraki Catchment Board was neither checked nor archived. While much of this data has now been checked some uncertainties remain at some sites. Most sites use independent local datums as Moturiki Datum has not been used around the Coramandel Peninsula.

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