Friday, February 10, 2006
New Patented Sand fence
A new hope for dunes
Air Force biologists, however, are exploring ways to allow dune systems on the beaches it controls to rebuild themselves naturally, according to Eglin biologist Bruce Hagedorn.
The responsibility for shoring up the base property south of U.S. 98 has most recently fallen to Rip Kirby, a University of South Florida student who has patented a sand fence he believes can rebuild a dune system within a couple of years.
Eglin has given Kirby permission to use its property to test his asterisk-shaped fence, which he says catches windblown sand no matter which way the wind is blowing.
It's like stirring sugar in coffee. The sand sits in the center until it dissolves. The vortex of the fence holds sand inside until it drops, Kirby said.
While the old-fashioned sand fences take about two years to establish four feet of dune, Kirby believes he can accomplish the same thing in six to 12 months.
Kirby said he will field-test his fence for the next 18 months at one of the Okaloosa Island sites where storm surge has most impacted U.S. 98. He�s advertising on e-Bay for corporate sponsors to help him fund the project.
Hopefully we will have a lot of sand dunes to show for it, he said of the project.
Source: NW FL Daily News
Air Force biologists, however, are exploring ways to allow dune systems on the beaches it controls to rebuild themselves naturally, according to Eglin biologist Bruce Hagedorn.
The responsibility for shoring up the base property south of U.S. 98 has most recently fallen to Rip Kirby, a University of South Florida student who has patented a sand fence he believes can rebuild a dune system within a couple of years.
Eglin has given Kirby permission to use its property to test his asterisk-shaped fence, which he says catches windblown sand no matter which way the wind is blowing.
It's like stirring sugar in coffee. The sand sits in the center until it dissolves. The vortex of the fence holds sand inside until it drops, Kirby said.
While the old-fashioned sand fences take about two years to establish four feet of dune, Kirby believes he can accomplish the same thing in six to 12 months.
Kirby said he will field-test his fence for the next 18 months at one of the Okaloosa Island sites where storm surge has most impacted U.S. 98. He�s advertising on e-Bay for corporate sponsors to help him fund the project.
Hopefully we will have a lot of sand dunes to show for it, he said of the project.
Source: NW FL Daily News
