Sediment transport pathways determined from grain characteristics based on digital images

Abstract

The direction of sediment transport is one of important factors to manage sandy beaches. The prominent direction of sediment transport was estimated using grain size parameters such as the mean, sorting, skewness and roundness. They were obtained from digital images. The agreement between grain size distribution profiles by a sieving technique and by digital images is good. With decreasing of grain size diameter, grain shape becomes more round. Also distribution profiles of grain roundness are corresponding to normal distribution profiles. The prominent direction of sediment transport in Awaji Island has both southwest and northeast\. The significant level of Z-score increases by considering grain roundness.