Ben Beasley, M.S.

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Areas of Expertise

  • Analysis of regional geomorphic change

  • Coastal and nearshore processes

  • Coastal GIS analyses

Education

2018 M.S., Earth and Environmental Science, University of New Orleans
2018 Graduate Certificates in Coastal Science and Coastal Engineering, University of New Orleans
2016 B.S., Earth and Environmental Science, University of New Orleans

Project Experience

Operational Sediment Budget for the Outer Coast of Louisiana: Raccoon Point to Sandy Point

  • The significance of sediment to the sustainability of coastal Louisiana and developing a sediment budget to promote effective utilization of sediment resources is a critical element for implementation and ultimate success of the Coastal Master Plan. Historical shoreline, topographic, and bathymetric surveys for the barrier island coastline of Louisiana were used to quantify net changes in sediment volume within the littoral zone for the period 1985-87 to 2013-16 and determine net patterns and rates of sediment transport. Mr. Beasley compiled and analyzed these survey data sets, and completed detailed QA/QC procedures, toward development of topo/bathymetric surfaces for quantifying spatial and temporal change trends and sediment transport pathways to better evaluate and manage barrier island restoration projects.

Mapping Wetland Changes in South Louisiana Deltaic Habitat

  • Historical and recent aerial imagery was used to map and document wetland changes using GIS tools. Wetland change was determined for various Louisiana deltaic areas, and marsh change patterns were evaluated relative to natural hydrologic processes, subsidence and sea-level trends, and human activities that have been active in south Louisiana for the past century.

Selected Publications

Beasley, B.S., I.Y. Georgiou, M.D. Miner, and M.R. Byrnes, 2019. Coupled barrier system shoreline and shoreface dynamics, Louisiana, USA. In: P.Wang, J.D. Rosati, and M. Vallee (eds.), Coastal Sediments 2019, World Scientific, Hackensack, NJ, 173-186.

Byrnes, M.R., J.L. Berlinghoff, and B.S. Beasley, 2019. Louisiana Operational Sediment Budget: Raccoon Point to Sandy Point, 1985-89 to 2013-16. Final Report prepared for Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Baton Rouge, LA, 118 p. plus appendices.