Comprehensive Surf Zone Modeling Tool

The littoral and specifically surf zone regions with breaking waves, bathymetry, weather, currents, tides, obstacles, etc. create a dynamic environment that can be very challenging for conducting operations. Systems are being developed to increase situational awareness in this region, however expensive physical testing to verify performance is limited to specific areas and conditions. To supplement physical test data, expand performance characterization and reduce testing costs, Dynamic Dimension Technologies, LLC (DDT) and partner University of Minnesota St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL), propose to create a comprehensive surf zone modeling capability for the Water incorporated and Autonomy enabled Virtual Environment (WAVE) simulation framework. To accomplish this, we will begin with SAFL’s Wave-Ocean-Wind (WOW) computational framework for high-fidelity simulation of multi-scale and multi-physics geophysical flows for naval applications then develop an innovative methodology and modeling architecture that integrates with WAVE to support sensor models (i.e. EO, IR, RF, Sonar, etc.) as needed for algorithm and system testing. This proposal describes DDT’s and SAFL’s efforts to design a comprehensive surf zone modeling tool based on a combination of the unique technologies of both WAVE and WOW, that will result in an intuitive tool to support system performance assessment and verification testing.