After enduring two major hurricanes — both of which destroyed 20 miles of Atlantic Ocean shoreline — a county in Florida, United States, needed help in its restoration efforts. The area had become increasingly susceptible to further damage. Hurricanes had reduced the natural habitat for several endangered species: marine turtles, gophers, tortoises, nesting shorebirds and beach mice. The reconstruction of private dune walkover structures and thousands of feet of private sand fencing required assistance during all project phases.

GHD Digital’s Location Intelligence (LI) team provided the client with data derived from digital data collection tools that developed the spatial solution of a digital “Master Map” which helped reduce costs and field transcription errors and automated the collection of field photos and reporting logs. This process was completed for the hurricane-impacted beach berm and dunes while protecting the natural habitats of threatened and endangered species.

The “Master Map” captured project reach areas, turtle nesting locations, sand access lots, sand mines, permitted and non-permitted beach structures, tax parcels, and the survey locations and results. Sensitive information — such as turtle nest locations in relation to surveyed features — enabled more informed decisions for project progression and effectively captured a large amount of spatial information in one concise and user-friendly application.

Our team collected data on turtle nest locations within the project area, spanning from 2007 to 2022. The resulting turtle nest location figures provided crucial support for the project team in predicting future nesting behaviour, aiding agency discussions and planning construction activities without impacting wildlife.
To assist in the restoration efforts, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) granted funding for 750,000 cubic yards of beach-compatible sand to be sourced from an inland mine.

The construction planning stages determined the best path forward for restoration, including the logistics and cost efficiencies of transporting the sand to the project location to fast-track construction.

GHD Digital assisted in the spatial analysis of locating inland mines in the north-central region and determined the locations of access holding lots and staging areas for machinery and construction crews to enter the beach for sand disposal. The team developed surveys to collect asset-related information, spatial location, and images for construction purposes and sand placement that were tracked throughout the project lifecycle. Almost 500 records were collected and automated for the seamless creation of report logs.

The design-build approach facilitated collaboration with the contractor, expediting design and permitting during the pre-construction phase. This agile process allowed for adjustments to the final design in response to evolving environmental conditions. This responsive design, complemented by digital solutions, enhanced precision and efficiency, adhering to FEMA funding timelines. Construction was completed in 15 months.

As a result, GHD Digital implemented restorative engineering practices along more than 11 miles of hurricane-affected coastline, safeguarding the protection of habitats of sensitive species.