Armourstone Users Group meeting
This unique annual meeting facilitates the exchange of news and views about the use of armourstone for coastal defences and breakwaters in the UK and around the world.
Delegates will receive useful technical updates, along with plenty of time for discussion and networking. It also provides an opportunity for younger professionals to understand the armourstone industry, to understand real projects and to see examples of supply, delivery and construction techniques.
The meeting has proved to be of interest to all practitioners in the field including those involved in the supply, specification and use of armourstone. It is a unique opportunity for the meeting of quarry operators, shipping companies, contractors, designers and end-user authorities.
Programme
Taking place on 5 October 2023 this year marks the 27th Armourstone Users Group meeting. The meeting will be held at HR Wallingford, Oxfordshire, and will include guest speakers, presentations by young professionals and a tour of HR Wallingford’s physical modelling facilities.
The venue for the meeting is HR Wallingford, Howbery Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK, OX10 8BA.
| 09:30-10:15 | Registration and coffee | |
| 10:15-10:30 | Introduction and welcome | |
| Session 1 | Recent technical developments | |
| 10:30-10:50 | Hythe Ranges Sea Defences; A sustainable and successful delivery | Mark Glennerster, Glennerster Consulting Ltd |
| 10:50-11:10 | Selection of optimum design criteria and appropriate climate change scenarios for rock revetment design | Adrian Douglas, Mott MacDonald |
| 11:10-11:30 | Yield Predictions for Quarries in the Compound Lava at Thorlákshöfn, South-Iceland, 2001-2023 | Ómar Bjarki Smárason, STAPI Ltd |
| 11:30-11:45 | Break | |
| Session 2 | Case study | |
| 11:45-12:15 | Procurement and use of Rock Armour in Coastal Defence Improvements – Lessons Learned by a Local Authority | Owen Conry & Oliver Edwards, Conwy County Borough Council |
| 12:15-12:30 | Discussion | |
| 12:30-14:15 | Lunch followed by tour of HR Wallingford physical modelling facilities | |
| Session 3 | Young professionals competition | |
| 14:15-14:20 | Introduction | |
| 14:20-14:35 | Aligning rock armour grades with the production potential of local quarries in the design of a revetment structure near Dakar, Senegal | James Spencer, Mott MacDonald |
| 14:35-14:50 | Determining the Accessibility of Near Shore Operations for Delivery of Rock Armour: Conquering the “Final Mile” | Nathaniel Lea Wurzbach, Keynvor MorLift Ltd |
| 14:50-15:05 | Wave Overtopping at Wide Crested Rock Armour Structures | Osbourne Chant, HR Wallingford |
| 15:05-15:20 | A Demonstration of the Effects of Sea Level Rise on Submerged Armourstone Breakwaters | Wilf Chun, Moffatt and Nichol |
| 15:20-15:40 | Discussion | |
| 15:40-16:00 | Break | |
| Session 4 | Announcements | |
| 16:00-16:15 | Updated guidelines rock Manual and Standards | Jonathan Simm, Mineral Products Association |
| 16:15-16:30 | Future of armourstone meeting | |
| 16:30-16:45 | Discussion | |
| 19:30 | Evening dinner, Wallingford |
Young Professionals Award
Young engineering professionals and other professionals with less than 10 years post-graduate experience are invited to submit short written papers describing some aspect of an armourstone project with which they have been involved, whether in concept development, detailed design or construction. Successful candidates will be asked to present their papers at the meeting where the winner will be decided. The deadline for submission of papers is 31 August 2023, please email to training@hrwallingford.com.
Registration
Registration is now open, and there is discounted early booking fee of £225.00 (excluding VAT) available for registrations received on or before 14 September 2023. After 14 September the standard fee of £270.00 (excluding VAT) will apply. The optional evening dinner is £45.00 (excluding VAT).
We have reserved a number of rooms at The George Hotel in Wallingford (https://www.peelhotels.co.uk/george-hotel/) for 5 October. The rooms are on hold until 5 September, please quote their reference ‘61534’ when contacting them to make the booking.
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