Research Theme 3:
Emerging Areas
Shoreline Response
2023 Conference
Dr. Gregory Guannel
Meet The Team
Greg Guannel, Ph.D.
Bret Webb, Ph.D. (USA)
2023 SITE VISIT
Dr. Gregory Guannel – Emerging Areas / Shoreline Response
Edwin Cruz-Rivera, Ph.D. (Morgan State)
Nikita Beck, Research Tech.
Joe Dwyer (Lynker)
Deborah Fernandes,
Ph.D. Student
Zoe Price, M.S. Student
Tamia Grant, 
Undergrad Student
Joleen Buchanan,
Undergrad Student
Brenique Dawson, 
Undergrad Student
Introduction
• Coastal hazards and their impacts are 
intensifying because of coastal development 
patterns, land use practices and climate change
• Natural habitats are seen as potential tool to 
help reduce impacts
• Seagrass (and other habitats) might play 
important role in sequestering sediment and 
moderating impacts of hazards
2023 Conference
Dr. Gregory Guannel – Emerging Areas / Shoreline Response
Research Go
als And 
Objectives
2023 Conference
Dr. Gregory Guannel – Emerging Areas / Shoreline Response
Research Goal: Quantify the role of seagrass 
type in short and long-term beach evolution.
Year 1
Identify and recruit graduate 
student
Identify study sites
Acquire field survey equipment
Student identified (foreign) 
and hired. Delay getting 
the student in the US.
Field equipment acquired and field 
methods developed.
Coastal characterization starts.
Year 2
Deploy Equipment and Data 
Acquisition
Delayed. Paperwork 
between USA and UVI in 
process.
Equipment tested and used to 
characterize coastal environment. UVI 
student hired. Coastal observations 
start.
Year 3
Linking Seagrass 
Hydrodynamics with Beach 
Response
Delayed. Paperwork 
between UVI and USA 
finalized.
Further characterization of coastal 
environment and processes. UVI 
student hired. M.S. Student identified. 
Observations continue.
Research Go
als And 
Objectives
2023 SITE VISIT
Dr. Gregory Guannel – Emerging Areas / Shoreline Response
Research Goal: Quantify the role of seagrass 
type in short and long-term beach evolution.
Year 1
Identify and recruit graduate 
student
Identify study sites
Acquire field survey equipment
Student identified (foreign) 
and hired. Delay getting 
the student in the US.
Field equipment acquired and field 
methods developed.
Coastal characterization starts.
Year 2
Deploy Equipment and Data 
Acquisition
Delayed. Paperwork 
between USA and UVI in 
process.
Equipment tested and used to 
characterize coastal environment. UVI 
student hired. Coastal observations 
start.
Year 3
Linking Seagrass 
Hydrodynamics with Beach 
Response
Delayed. Paperwork 
between UVI and USA 
finalized.
Further characterization of coastal 
environment and processes. UVI 
student hired. M.S. Student identified. 
Observations continue.
Year 4
Continuation of Y3
Site visit and equipment 
deployment in Dec. 2023
Continuation of observations and 
begin wave modeling
Wave climate and climate hazards 
mapped and quantified
Coastal environment of the VI 
mapped and characterized
Active monitoring of nearshore 
wave field and beach response
Testing remote sensing techniques 
to improve observations
2 peer-reviewed publications 
(https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2022.923965, 
https://doi.org/10.1142/9789811275135_0196 )
Research, Outcomes & 
Accomplishments
2023 SITE VISIT
Dr. Gregory Guannel – Emerging Areas / Shoreline Response
Publications are Targeted to 
Practioners
2023 Conference
Dr. Gregory Guannel – Emerging Areas / Shoreline Response
Foster Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration With 
Agencies and Regional Groups
2023 Conference
Dr. Gregory Guannel – Emerging Areas / Shoreline Response
Tools Developed to Communicate Research Outcomes and 
Increase Capacity 
2023 SITE VISIT
Dr. Gregory Guannel – Emerging Areas / Shoreline Response
Develop Activities that Advance Science and Help Inform 
Policy
2023 Conference
Dr. Gregory Guannel – Emerging Areas / Shoreline Response
Future Plans
2023 SITE VISIT
Dr. Gregory Guannel – Emerging Areas / Shoreline Response
• Deploy remote sensing equipment at select 
sites
• On-site monitoring of select sites
• Monitoring of hydrodynamics and beach 
response in seagrass dominated nearshore 
regions
• Creation of wind-wave generation tool
• Creation of wave atlas for the USVI
Thank you!
Dr. Gregory Guannel
EMAIL: gregory.guannel@uvi.edu
PHONE: 340-693-1158
2023 SITE VISIT