PONTOS

The PONTOS-model is an integrated conceptual model for Shore Line Management, developed to assess the long-term and large-scale development of coastal stretches. It is originally based on the multi-layer model that was used to predict the development of the Dutch Wadden coast [Steetzel, 1995].

In a multi-layer model, the cross-shore profile is schematised as a number of mutually coupled horizontal layers. The interaction between these layers, viz. the cross-shore transport depends on the associated intermediate bottom slopes, whereas the local transport in longshore direction depends, amongst others on the orientation of the layer relative to the equilibrium orientation (usually perpendicular to the direction of wave attack).

Starting from this concept, a large number of substantial improvements of the model are taken into account of which the most important is the way the offshore hydraulic conditions (wave and tidal climates) are dealt with. Furthermore, a new 'wave-forced cross-shore transport' model was formulated in order to assess the exchange between two adjacent layers in a better way.

The PONTOS-model is developed by Dr. Henk J. Steetzel (project A066 and its successor A244) in cooperation with Mr. Hans de Vroeg of WL|Delft Hydraulics (project H3159/Z2559) on behalf of the National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management / Rijkswaterstaat - Rijksinstituut voor Kust en Zee (contract no. RKZ-370/594) in the framework of the COAST*2000 research programme.
Furthermore, its development was partly carried out in the PACE and SAFE projects of the EC-sponsored Marine Science and Technology Programme (MAST-III), under contracts no. MAS3-CT95-0002 and MAS3-CT95-0057 respectively (see A009 and A010 respectively), as well as internal research funds of Alkyon Hydraulic Consultancy & Research.

Some background information on the model and the formulations used is provided in the following documents:

Steetzel, H.J., 1995. Modelling a multi-interrupted coast - prediction of the coastline and outer delta development of the Dutch Wadden coast for the period 1990-2040 using a multi-layer model, WL|Delft Hydraulics, report H1887 (in Dutch).

Steetzel, H.J. and J.H. de Vroeg, 1997. Beach nourishments & Rock structures - Behaviour-oriented modelling of the combination of nourishments and rigid shore parallel structures, Centre for Civil Engineering Research, Codes and Specifications, Gouda, The Netherlands, May 1997.

Steetzel, H.J., J.H. de Vroeg and L.C. van Rijn, 1998. Pilot-version of the PonTos-model, definition and elaboration of a behaviour-oriented model for the development of the Dutch coast - Model formulation, Alkyon Hydraulic Consultancy & Research / WL|Delft Hydraulics report A066/H3159, Volume 1.

Steetzel, H.J., J.H. de Vroeg and L.C. van Rijn, 1998. Pilot-version of the PonTos-model, definition and elaboration of a behaviour-oriented model for the development of the Dutch coast - Application for the Dutch Coast, Alkyon Hydraulic Consultancy & Research / WL|Delft Hydraulics report A066/H3159, Volume 2.

Steetzel, H.J., 1998. Pilot-version of the PonTos-model, definition and elaboration of a behaviour-oriented model for the development of the Dutch coast - Mathematical implementation, Alkyon Hydraulic Consultancy & Research / WL|Delft Hydraulics report A066/H3159, Volume 3.

Steetzel, H.J. and J.H. de Vroeg, 1998. Pilot-version of the PonTos-model, definition and elaboration of a behaviour-oriented model for the development of the Dutch coast - Background documents, Alkyon Hydraulic Consultancy & Research / WL|Delft Hydraulics report A066/H3159, Volume 4.

Steetzel, H.J., J.H. de Vroeg, L.C. van Rijn and J.M.T. Stam, 1998. Morphological modelling using a modified multi-layer approach, Paper presented at ICCE 1998 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Steetzel, H.J. and J.H. de Vroeg, 1999. Application of a multi-layer model for morphological modeling, accepted abstract for Coastal Sediments 1999.

© 2001Alkyon Hydraulic Consultancy & Research, The Netherlands.