Coastal erosion on Vestpynten, Svalbard; Engineering measures for shore protection.

• Main Author: Linzbach, Antonia-Maria
• Format: Bachelor Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: KTH, Mark- och vattenteknik 2014
• Subjects: Arctic; Coastal erosion; engineering coast protection; shore protection; Civil Engineering; Samhällsbyggnadsteknik; Longyearbyen; Svalbard; Vestpynten
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-171785

This thesis describes the processing of 3D Laser measurements from Vestpynten, Svalbard to find out the erosion pattern at the site as a basis for the design of an appropriated shore protection suggestion and also to evaluate the applicability of 3D laser measurement systems in Arctic environments. 3D laser measurements would be interesting for the analysis of areas with limited accessibility, since 3D laser measurement allows very precise recordings of the landscape/ surfaces without the need of accessing the investigation area. Based on the processed pictures and further erosion analysis the thesis suggests an erosion protection design for Vestpynten, based on geosynthetics. This was found to be necessary, since the road connecting Bjørndalen to Longyearbyen is at Vestpynten only a few meters away from the edge of the instable, eroding cliff. The suggested geosynthetic protection design is expected to be appropriate in terms of ecological and economical requirements of the site.