Kraus Receives Shore and Beach Preservation Award

15 Sep 04--Vicksburg, MS--Dr. Nicholas C. Kraus, a senior scientist at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, Miss., has been named the recipient of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association's (ASBPA) 2004 Morrough P. O'Brien Award.

Harry Simmons, president of ASBPA, presented the award to Kraus on Sept. 14 for outstanding scientific advances contributing to the preservation of beaches and for his exceptional service to ASBPA. William Grosskopf, vice-president of Offshore and Coastal Technologies, Inc., and ASBPA member, nominated Kraus for the O'Brien award.

"Nick's personal and professional contributions toward the ideals and objectives of the ASBPA and his direct contributions to the organization are substantial," Grosskopf said. "As a practicing coastal engineer since 1979, I have come to know Dr. Kraus's research, software, numerical models and publications as invaluable resources on some aspect of nearly every project we and others perform."

Over the course of his career, Kraus has worked to develop and put the best scientific and engineering tools into the hands of the professional community. He was co-developer of the shoreline change model GENESIS, storm-induced beach erosion model SBEACH, longshore current model NMLONG, tidal hydrodynamics model DYNLET, beach profile analysis toolbox BMAP, sediment budget analysis system SBAS, and new tools in the Inlet Reservoir Model and regional breaching models. He has authored more than 300 technical articles and is widely known around the world as an expert in beach and inlet processes.

Kraus has served as chair or co-chair for coastal sediments conferences for many years. On the 25th anniversary of the International Coastal Engineering Conference, Kraus conceived and edited the book, "History and Heritage of Coastal Engineering," to document the history of coastal engineering in the 15 countries that have hosted this international conference.

Kraus has served as ASBPA director, and for five years served as editor of Shore and Beach. He is currently the associate editor for the Journal of Coastal Research, a position he has held since 1987.

Kraus received his bachelor's degree and doctorate in physics from the State University of New York and the University of Minnesota, respectively. He also holds an honorary doctorate from Lund University in Sweden.

At the ERDC, Kraus's research and development activities include coastal hydrodynamics and sediment transport processes; mathematical modeling of shoreline and beach-profile changes and tidal hydrodynamics; and navigation channel maintenance and dredged material movement.

The ERDC is the premier research and development facility for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It consists of seven laboratories at four geographical sites, with over 2,000 employees, $1.2 billion in facilities, and an annual research program exceeding $700 million. It conducts research in both military and civil works mission areas for the Department of Defense and the nation.