As part of a beach fill project Rogers Surveying was tasked to survey numerous groins along the New Jersey shoreline in the vicinity of Lang Branch, New Jersey. These types of survey are very demanding. They are very dangerous and are not for the weak of heart. The surveys require upland and bathymetric survey work. The upland is accomplished by simply topo’ing the portion of the groin that can be reached by long prism poles all the while walking over slime covered boulders, and swimming around them while being smashed against the rocks by incoming waves.

After surveying a few of these groins we decided it best to “armor” the rod men. The rod men were equipped with dry suits, life jackets, jetty shoes, and off the shelf ice hockey gear. The gear included helmets, knee, shin, and forearm and elbow guards.

The bathymetric portion proved a separate challenge all onto itself; This required launching a small Zodiac into the surf, trying to time it between waves as not to swap the boat. Once the boat was past the surf zone it was always in danger of being tossed upon the very sharp boulders of the groin. This was probably some of the most exciting and tiring survey work there is.