a. The Research Program. B) 1951, tlie BEB's research activities were divided into two 

 broad groups. The first consisted of an attempt to isolate and then investigate the main 

 physical factors involved in tlie understanding and solution of beach erosion problems. The 

 following nine factors were selected for study: 



(1) Waves in deep water, 



(2) waves in shallow water, 



(3) currents in shallow water, 



(4) factors affecting supply and movement of beach material to the littoral zone, 



(5) significance of natural formations, 



(6) beach processes, 



(7) functional design and effects of manmade structures, 



(8) structural design of manmade structures, and 



(9) supporting investigations and activities. 



Each of these subjects was divided into several subtopics. This compilation was "considered 

 to be a fairly permanent statement of the factors involved in the solution of shore 

 protection problems."^ ^^ There was also established a Priority Table which contained a list 

 of the 10 most pressing problems for a given fiscal year. This Table was to be revised 

 annually in order to better meet current needs. 



Tlie second of the two broad groupings of activity was a program to gather, and compile 

 on a regional basis, existing data on the coastline of the United States. Increasingly, it was 

 realized that an important element in better dealing with shore problems was the application 

 of the physiographic unit, a concept emphasized by Martin Mason during World War II. 

 Thus, it was felt that with data compiled for the various regions of the coastline, local 

 problems within those regions could be handled more quickly. Moreover, if all existing 

 information were gathered and evaluated, then the needs for any additional fieldwork could 

 be clearly pinpointed. Each regional report was to have five chapters: Geomorphology, 

 Littoral Forces, Littoral Materials, Littoral Measurements, with the final chapter consisting 

 of a Summary and Conclusions. 



b. Technical Report No. 4. For a number of years, there had been appreciation of the 

 need for some form of manual for the design of shore protection structures. Although much 

 knowledge had been gained on the subject, there existed no compilation of data 

 representing the current state-of-the-art. The engineer faced with a coastal problem liad no 

 basic source to whicli he could refer. To meet this need which, by the late 1940's, had 

 become acute, the BEB decided in October 1948 to prepare such a publication. Format 

 planning and the collection of data were initiated. The Board's staff and library were ideally 

 suited for an undertaking of this kind. 



Thus, the first major BEB project following Eaton's appointment as Chief Technical 

 Advisor was the actual preparation of what was to become the agency's fourth technical 



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