Design Brief

Individual Design Brief:

To plan and design a green marina for Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716, as a structural engineer, from the waterline out including the design the docks for commercial and recreational boats, inclusion of energy sources for the boats, and coastal structures such as bulkheads, breakwaters, and groins. The design must align with the civil engineering site plan of the marina and must be designed using the current perimeter of the Atlantic Highlands Marina. Produce a scaled model as a visual representation of this design.

Team Design Brief:
To plan and design a green marina for Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716 for year-round use by the citizens of Atlantic Highlands. Produce a scaled model as a visual representation of this design.

Summer Research

There are many different solutions to make a marina environmentally friendly. These solutions can be seen by observing other Green Marinas to see what steps they have taken in order to improve their marinas. Various solutions other Green Marinas have used are listed below:
The first issue that was pollutes marinas is runoff water/pollution entering the water from the parking lot. One solution could be to move the parking lot further away from the water. Another possible solution is to have a drain going across the ramp leading into the water. That way, runoff water and some other small objects would fall into the drain instead of flowing into the water itself.

Another issue considered is where the boat storage equipment is stored. Currently in the Atlantic Highlands Marina, the extra equipment that holds the boats up and in storage is left outside close to the water. The equipment has become rusty and the paint is peeling off of it because it is left outside. A shed to keep this equipment could be built in order to keep it in better condition and to keep the rust and peeling paint from blowing into the water and causing pollution.

A third issue is the fact that the on-land gas pumps at the Atlantic Highlands Marina were so close to the water. The fact that the fuel pumps were so close to the water worried me because it could lead to serious pollution if there was a spill of some sort. The gas pumps would need to be moved further away from the water. The dock gas pumps could be placed on top of a material that absorbs oil and gas, so that if there is a small leak or spill, the material would be able to absorb the oil/gas instead of letting it flow into the ocean. When the material becomes completely saturated or outdated, it would need to be properly disposed of and replaced with new material. For the docking system, the docks should be organized so that commercial boats such as party boats would be on one side of the marina, and the private boats as well as the fishing pier would be on the other end. Many current green marinas minimize the usage of hazardous materials. They use only environmentally friendly materials to construct the marina, such as long lasting docks that do not need to be replaced as often as a wooden dock does.

Runoff is a major contributor in polluting marinas. Plant vegetation in and around parking lots in order to absorb storm water. These plants that are placed in parking lots are known as “green barriers” and are often used in green marinas. These green barriers not only stop runoff, but also are aesthetically pleasing. Make sure all draining systems for roofs lead to soil and not concrete or asphalt so that the soil will absorb water and not lead to runoff into the marina’s water. Keep all equipment in the marina current and working properly. For example, while visiting the site I noticed that some rinsing stations had leaking pipes and water was pouring all over the parking lot nearby the ramp. This was causing a ton of runoff water to build up.

Many issues in marinas that cause pollution can simply be solved through organization. For example, moving dumpsters, rusty equipment, and open garbage cans away from the water can stop some debris from entering water. Placing signs everywhere stating littering laws/rules and marina regulations can also help enforce laws and prevent some pollution. Setting up recycling stations and having proper disposal containers for certain chemicals or wastes can also prevent dumping and pollution. Setting fees and fines and actually enforcing them for those who do not obey the rules can encourage people not to pollute the water. It is also necessary to enforce these laws, because then people are more likely to obey them.

The Atlantic Highlands Marina currently has wooden docks. The issue with wooden docks is that they do need to be replaced often as the wood rots away. This is a waste of materials, and therefore not beneficial to the environment. Fiberglass docks can be a good material for building docks. Fiberglass docks are tough and durable and are said to last around 50 years in marine
The Atlantic Highlands Marina currently has a breakwater in order to protect the marina from waves and rough tides in the bay. However, breakwaters are not very environmentally friendly, and therefore should be replaced with a different system. Breakwaters lead to erosion, and so they do not make a marina green.

Over the summer, my partner and I visited the Atlantic Highlands Marina in order to take pictures of the site and view all of the vital parts of the Marina. We noted not only the layout of the Marina, but also the location of important things such as trash cans, electrical outlets, gas pumps, parking lots, the fishing pier, boat repair areas, boat storage, benches, flag poles, fire hydrants, offices, street lights, bike parking, handicap parking, soda machines, bulletin boards, and various signs stating rules and regulations. Also, after visiting the site, we realized several building we would need to take into account that are located at this specific site. There is the Shore Casino, Sissy’s restaurant, the bait shop, the security station, the marina office, the restrooms, a playground, tennis courts, a basketball court, a senior center, and a trail to take into consideration, besides the marina itself.

After having a discussion with Carol Cassese from the Atlantic Highlands Marina Office, I was informed that the marina has 400 slips, and around 140-150 moorings. She also stated that the marina was first opened in the 1940’s. The marina is protected from the bay by a breakwater and currently consists of ten piers. One of the piers is a fishing pier, and one of the piers has access to the ferry at the very end. The commercial boats are located at one side of the marina, while the privately owned boats and the fishing pier are located at the complete opposite side. The marina currently is made up of several different shaped piers. They range from T shaped to piers that come out at an angle. The pier with ferry access is almost twice as long as the other piers. The marina has several parking lots, including a commuter’s lot and a regular lot. Parts of the marina’s docks are actually rooted to the ground, while other parts are floating docks.


Works Consulted
Dura Composites. “Marina Deck.” http://www.marinadeck.co.uk/
The Green Blue. “Green Blue Guide To Designing A Green Marina.”
http://www.thegreenblue.org.uk/publications/documents/BestPracticeGreenMarina.doc
Green Marina Initiative. “Green Marina Guidebook.” http://www.interior.gov/greening/links/greenmarina.pdf

Testing

The final solution of the Green Marina should fit the design brief and follow all specifications and limitations set for the project. An environmentally friendly marina should be produced on the site where the Atlantic Highlands Marina currently exists. Rather than testing out the actual model itself, which would be pointless, the concept will be tested. The most logical way to test out the design is to ask an expert involved with green marinas to come evaluate the final solution and final product.

Exploratory tests: The exploratory test for this project can take place throughout the brainstorming process. The designs should all be thought through and basic design questions should be thought through. The marina layouts should all be logical and have working designs.

Assessment tests: Once a final solution has been chosen, assessment tests should take place to decide if the final chosen solution is a viable one. Design matrices can be used to help conduct assessment tests.

Validation tests: The final marina solution should go through validation tests in order to make sure the design fulfills the design brief and adheres to all of the specifications and limitations listed for the project. The chosen solution should also match up to the partner's solution.

Comparison tests: Comparison tests can be conducted at the completion of the Green Marina project. Having an expert in green marinas evaluate our designs and compare them to current and effective green marinas can complete the comparison tests. Creating a survey for a specialist in green marinas to fill out will help them grade the effectiveness of the design easier.

Testing Procedures:
A structural engineer will be called in to review BT (myself) and JB's portions of the project, because we are both structural engineers and developed two separate solutions to fit with KK's solution for the land. The structural engineer would review the effectiveness of the docking system along with how structurally safe/effective the docks themselves are. They would review everything in the marina design from the waterline out. An environmental specialist or engineer could be called in to review how environmentally safe and friendly the design is. They would look at things such as how power is generated, where waste is disposed of, where runoff water goes, and many other details involved with the marina.

1. Set up a meeting with a specialist who is familiar with green marinas. For example, Mr. Danko could be used to review the final project.
2. Have a checklist or survey prepared for the specialist so that they can review the list and know what criteria they need to grade the design off of. Make sure to list the specifications of the project on the survey, so they know what needed to be accomplished with this project.
3. Give the specialist a presentation on the project as a whole. Tell them the overview of the project, and include the design brief, specifications, and limitations. Also include an overview of the design process, selection/rejection, and how you developed the design to make it the final solution it is in the end.
4. Using the model built and any drawings made, explain the marina design and how it works. Make sure to include the various parts of the marina that make it environmentally friendly and "green." Explain traffic flow, how the docks are structured, materials, etc. Thoroughly explain every part of the design.
5. Ask if the specialist has any questions concerning the design or how it works. Make sure they completely understand the the project, as well as your solution.
6. Give the specialist the prepared survey/checklist so they can review and critique the design. Leave room for them to comment about what they think about the project and how you did as a whole, or for any comments they feel like leaving.
7. The marina design should be graded for how effectively it works and functions as a marina, as well as how environmentally friendly it is.
8. Compare the two final solutions for the structural portion of the project to see which is more environmentally friendly.

Survey:

The purpose of this survey is to review and comment on the structural engineering portion of the Green Marina Project.

Is the marina constructed from environmentally friendly materials?
Are there prevention methods taken in areas where there is a high amount of pollution?
Do the docks fit an appropriate amount of boats?
Do the docks accommodate different sized boats?
Is the boat traffic pattern of the marina logical?
Are all necessary parts of a marina included in the design?
Does the design follow all New Jersey rules and regulations concerning marinas?
How effective is the solution for the issue of erosion?
How effective is the solution for the issue of petroleum leakage?
What aspects of the marina are the most logical? Which parts of the marina do not make sense/need improvement?
How is the marina protected from the bay? How effective is that means of protection?
Rate the marina on how environmentally friendly it is on a scale of 1 to 10, and explain reasoning:
Does the model accurately depict the marina design?
Do the drawings accurately depict the marina design?

Specifications & Limitations

Specifications:
-The design must provide all facilities and services to those who use the harbor
-The design must provide adequate parking for all harbor facilities
-The design must accommodate boats on land
-The design must contain an attractive entrance
-The design must plant two trees for ever tree removed
-The design must maximize water conservation
-The design must minimize water pollution in the form of water run-off and oil spillage
-The design must contain vegetation
-The design must minimize the use of impervious materials and buildings
-The design must include adequate lighting and drainage
-The design must prevent erosion
-The design must absorb any gasoline leaked into the water
-The design must provide slips for 400 boats
-The design must accommodate boats up to 90 feet long
-The design must provide freshwater access
-The design must provide a full service fuel dock with a sanitary pump-out station
-The design must provide an 88 ton travel lift and yard
-The design must provide bulkhead and retaining walls
-The design must minimize the need for and impact of dredging
-The design must use stationary docking
-The design must minimize water and land pollution
-The design must provide protection from incoming waves


Limitations:
-The design must adhere to Green Marina compliances
-The design must not extend beyond the current perimeter of the harbor
-The design must not remove facilities unless the facilities are being replaced by more eco-friendly versions
-The design must separate roads from parking areas
-The design must not contain more than 40% impervious areas
-The design must avoid the intersection of roads
-The design must minimize the disturbance of the existing site
-The design must adhere to Atlantic Highlands and New Jersey restrictions and regulations
-The design must prevent the introduction of pollutants into the bay
-The design must use renewable energy in the form of wind turbines and solar panels
-The design must be built using long-lasting, environmentally friendly materials

Background Information

Marinas are necessary for storing boats during all seasons, but are used to clean and fix them as well. A major concern with marinas today is the pollution that occurs in them. Turning our world “green” is a concept that is being adopted in many areas of society today, marinas included. Many problems in marinas today cause pollution and are in need of solutions. Some of these problems include runoff, chemicals, erosion, and many others.

Pollution is dangerous for creatures that live in the water as well as people and the environment. Gasoline leaking into the water as well as debris floating around are extremely harmful. On my very first trip to the site, one of the first things I noticed was the amount of trash floating in the water. By the ramp, I noticed a Coca Cola box and a few plastic bottles floating in the water (pictured below).

Some of the areas that would need to be looked at in order to make a marina “green” are:
-Vessel maintenance/repair
-Petroleum storage/transfer
-Sewage disposal
-Hazardous/non-hazardous wastes
-Storm water runoff
-Facilities management
The areas pertaining to the dock and water portion of the marina would be petroleum storage and transfer, sewage disposal, and hazardous/non-hazardous wastes.

In many current marinas, there can be many changes to these areas to not only make the marina greener, but also more cost efficient. New layouts, devices, docks, systems, designs, or supplies can help create a greener atmosphere for a marina. Marinas are made to be more "green" simply by constructing them out of environmentally friendly materials and out of materials that will last much longer. When materials do not need to be replaced as often, money is saved, and less resources are wasted.

Keeping the proper waste disposal containers at marinas is also a vital parting of keeping a marina "green." Specific areas are needed in order to assure that wastes end up in the proper disposal containers, instead of in the water or on the land. Also, green marinas have an efficient way to generate power without damaging the environment. This usually consists of solar panels and wind turbines. The marina does need some form of protection from the bay, because the rough waves are harmful to both the boats and the marina. Currently, a breakwater protects the marina from the bay, however breakwaters are not very environmentally friendly. They cause erosion and therefore damage the environment, and so a different solution is needed in order to make the marina "green."

Gas leaks are one of the major concerns in marinas. The gas from the gas docks will often leak into the water, therefore polluting the water. Many marinas use an absorbable material on the floor on the gas dock to absorb any leaks or spills that may occur. The material does need to be replaced every once and a while, or when a spill does occur. The material also needs to be disposed of properly when it is replaced. If it is not, the gas and oils in the materials will pollute the earth, causing even more environmental issues.


Litter found in the water at the Atlantic Highlands Marina at the ramp:


Spare boat storage equipment left out in the open at the marina covered in rust and peeling paint:

View of the marina: