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New gINT Tools Support Florida DEP Beach Replenishment Initiatives

Windsor, California, 1 November 2005- gINT Software has been invited to develop new tools to support the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Reconnaissance Offshore Sand Search database (ROSS) initiatives.

Designed and implemented by URS Corporation and coastal engineering consultant Coastal Planning and Engineering, Inc. (CPE) to provide generalized reconnaissance-level offshore sand resource inventories of the Florida coastline, the massive ROSS database will aid the agency in its decision-making and management processes for beach replenishment projects.

As more and more Florida beaches require replenishment due to natural erosion, hurricanes, or other factors, locating usable offshore sand sources is crucial to these projects. By compiling all relevant offshore sand data from public, private, and university sources, the environmental and financial costs and benefits of such initiatives can be clarified.

Because of the diversity of sources, a major challenge for the DEP is data consistency. gINT Software has been working with the DEP, the coastal engineering and marine geotechnical firm CPE and URS Corporation to streamline and standardize the input process and tie gINT into the database. By creating custom tools to use within gINT software solutions, this initiative allows data producers to enter their data; automatically perform the calculations and data validation; produce the required log, graph, and table reports; and then transfer the gINT data into the ACCESS® file structure required by the DEP for final submittal.

According to coastal geologist Jennifer Koch, Technical Project Manager for the Florida DEP, "Once we recognized the capabilities of gINT, it was easy to decide to adjust the ROSS database so it would communicate with gINT - especially given how many people already use the program.. With this system, it is significantly easier for consultants and geotechnical firms to send us their data." Koch also noted some of gINT's added benefits. "The output from gINT is more consistent, so that we now all have the forms - the core logs, the data sheets - that we need."

To further streamline recording and exchanging data, geologist Melany Larenas at Coastal Planning and Engineering points out that the State of Florida has been working with consultants and engineering firms to establish geotechnical data standards. These standards are now being built into the custom ROSS extensions of gINT. "Because of the flexibility of the gINT database," she says, "data can now be queried and formatted the way the State of Florida needs it. This is not possible with other geotechnical software products that are entirely graphical in nature. With the customizable gINT database tied to the program's powerful imaging tools, gINT is ideal for working with the ROSS database."

Jeff Birmingham, staff engineer at Coastal Tech, a coastal and marine engineering firm that is using the gINT ROSS extensions, was impressed with gINT's ease of use. "I started using gINT when we got involved with the ROSS database about a year ago, switching over from cumbersome Excel spreadsheets. And with no manual and very little support I was able to get to work immediately. It's made things a lot easier than using the traditional methods of the past."

gINT Software's ROSS extensions are now available for free download to all registered gINT 7 users from the gINT Software Web site.

About gINT Software
Since 1986, gINT Software has pioneered innovative and highly effective solutions for data management and reporting in the geotechnical and geoenvironmental industries. Today, gINT sets the standard for excellence in software for the profession. gINT's superior engineering, customer responsiveness and acclaimed support services have made gINT the product of choice for numerous transportation authorities, government agencies, consulting firms, and educational institutions worldwide. For more information on gINT Software, please visit www.gintsoftware.com.

About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection:
Recognizing the importance of the state's beaches, the Florida Legislature in 1986 adopted a posture of protecting and restoring the state's beaches and coastal systems through a comprehensive beach management planning program. Under the program, the Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems is responsible for administering the State's beach management program to protect and restore the state's beaches and coastal systems, and evaluating beach erosion problems throughout the state seeking viable solutions. The Regional Offshore Sand Search (ROSS) project is designed to provide a comprehensive tool for coastal engineers, project managers, and regulators that allows the identification and assessment of potential offshore sand resources that are suitable for beach nourishment projects.

About URS:
URS Corporation is a leading provider of planning, design, systems engineering and integration, technology development, program and construction management, and operations and maintenance services to federal, state and local government agencies in the U.S., Fortune 500 corporations worldwide and government clients in Europe and Asia/Pacific. Our professional staff includes approximately 27,000 employees in 20 countries.

About Coastal Planning and Engineering:
Coastal Planning & Engineering, Inc. (CPE) is the country's most experienced multi-disciplinary firm specializing in coastal engineering, planning, and implementation of beach restoration projects, marine habitat restoration, marine geotechnical investigations and evaluation, coastal surveying, regulatory permitting, and environmental sciences with an emphasis in shoreline stabilization. CPE has engineered coastal projects from New York through Texas with 80 percent of projects being in the State of Florida. CPE's staff of professionals includes coastal engineers, surveyors, geologists and scientists who have unparalleled experience in coordinating project design and resource protection issues, permitting and project implementation of coastal stabilization projects with clients and regulatory agencies.

About Coastal Tech:
Coastal Technology Corporation (Coastal Tech) is a coastal and marine engineering firm committed to providing quality service and expertise in relation to the coastal zone. Founded as a Florida corporation in November 1984, Coastal Tech provides feasibility, design, environmental permitting, and construction administration for beach and inlet management plans, erosion control structures, marinas, environmental restoration, and coastal parks.