IntroductionMy role in this project is to design a pier along the shore of Sandy Hook that will be structurally fit and stable and be made entirely of "green" materials. I will also be designing a bulkhead to control beach erosion. The pier will be open to visitors between the months of May through September. The goal is to design a structurally sound pier while still maintaining an eco-friendly environment.
Problem
Water pollution is becoming a major issue in today’s environment. Many people fail to recognize the severity of this issue. Water pollution occurs when pollutants like industrial waste products are discharged into the water without proper treatment. The effects of water pollution are very dangerous to both the organisms living in the water, and those who live on land. Processes like eutrophication can occur and kill off organisms and natural biological communities beneath the waves, while acid rain can harm those on land. Programs and movements like “Going Green” help people discover more ecologically friendly ways to conduct their lifestyles.
One large source of waterpollution comes from marinas and piers. The increase in recreational boating has subsequently led to an increase in the amount of water pollution coming from these piers. Processes such as boat cleaning, fueling, and runoff from parking lots and repair areas are raising the amount of pollution in the water. Sometimes accidents like oil spills occur, casting pollutants into the water. This kills off the fish living in the water, and really harms the environment. Many of the materials used in building these marinas and docks are also harmful to the environment.
Water pollution is becoming a major issue in today’s environment. Many people fail to recognize the severity of this issue. Water pollution occurs when pollutants like industrial waste products are discharged into the water without proper treatment. The effects of water pollution are very dangerous to both the organisms living in the water, and those who live on land. Processes like eutrophication can occur and kill off organisms and natural biological communities beneath the waves, while acid rain can harm those on land. Programs and movements like “Going Green” help people discover more ecologically friendly ways to conduct their lifestyles.
One large source of waterpollution comes from marinas and piers. The increase in recreational boating has subsequently led to an increase in the amount of water pollution coming from these piers. Processes such as boat cleaning, fueling, and runoff from parking lots and repair areas are raising the amount of pollution in the water. Sometimes accidents like oil spills occur, casting pollutants into the water. This kills off the fish living in the water, and really harms the environment. Many of the materials used in building these marinas and docks are also harmful to the environment.
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| Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska http://waterpollutionsmc.blogspot.com/ |
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| Water pollution from a flooded town http://www.svsu.edu |
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| People swimming in reportedly bad water quality http://newshopper.sulekha.com/ |
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| Pollution on eastern side of Thames Tower Bridge in London http://greenecopeace.co.uk/ |
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| Pollution from fire on pier http://www.dreamstime.com |
Solution
The Green Pier is an eco-friendly pier designed to promote “going green” and keeping the environment safe from pollutants. The project will have a positive long-term affect on the organisms living in the Sandy Hook ocean region, and raise awareness in beach-goers who are visiting the pier. This awareness is geared towards making the ocean safe and stopping water pollution.
http://www.boattrader.com/research/news-tips/green-boating/what-makes-a-green-marina-diff/
Many factors need to be considered when designing this pier. One very important factor is the climate of the area. Sandy Hook averages about 45 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit a year with on average about 4 inches of precipitation each month. This means Sandy Hook has a considerably cool climate. The pier must be structured slightly different from areas with warm climates. While minimum beam soil depth in warm climates is about 18 inches, cooler climates can require the beams to be anywhere from 4 to 6 feet deep in the soil below the water.
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| Clear day at Sandy Hook http://personal.stevens.edu/~jstefano/03_parks/35_Parks_SandyHook.html |
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| Existing marina at Sandy Hook http://marinas.com |
http://www.climate-charts.com/USA-Stations/NJ/NJ287865.php
http://www.ehow.com/how_4596308_build-pier-beam-foundation.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Install-Posts-in-the-Water-for-a-Dock-or-Pier
Another factor to consider would be the conditions of use. The pier would have to be safe to use from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It has to be able to withstand all weather conditions within this time frame, including heat, rain, and hail.
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| Pier after rainfall http://flickriver.com/photos/combinatorial/1430284955/ |
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| Pier during storm http://www.independent.com |
Possibly the most important factor involved in the design of the pier is the end user. The pier must be suitable for both recreational visitors and fishermen. The pier would have to function as both a pleasure pier and a fishing pier. It has to feature benches for visitors to sit on and stations for fishermen. It needs railings to be safe to use. The pleasure pier also needs to feature other attractions for visitors- such as lookout points. It might also feature lights for use during nighttime hours.
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| Pier binoculars http://www.yelp.com |
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| Bench on a pier http://www.flickr.com |
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| Lights on the railings http://mirror-uk-rb1.gallery.hd.org |
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| Lights alongside a pier http://www.ics.uci.edu |
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| Man fishing off a pier http://www.colonial-beach-virginia-attractions.com |
Brainstorming
The pier I have initially designed is a standard pier with two piers extending vertical to the shoreline. The bulkhead continues where the pier cuts off, and replaces the failed timber bulkhead that currently resides there.
Aside from the main idea, I did have some alternate solutions to use for the piers. Though we really have only one main design for the pier layout, I came up with some different aspects to add to the piers.
