ERDC   CHL   FRF
Field Research Facility
 Buildings
 Vehicles
 Staff
 Employment
 Travel info
 Tours
 DATA
 Publications
 User/Visitor Info

 Projects

 WIS
 Brunswick
 Cape Fear
 Sed Mound
 DELILAH
 DUCK94
 SandyDuck
 RIB
 S.T.O.R.M.
 SHOWEX
 Sediments
 Oregon Inlet
 Hotspots

FRF Buildings and Facilities

The Research Pier

 The concrete and steel research pier is the centerpiece of the FRF. It took two years to construct and was completed in 1977. It was constructed to survive severe storm conditions. The pier deck is 6 m (20 ft) wide and extends 560 m (1840 ft) from the dune to a nominal water depth of approximately 7 m (21 ft). The deck is supported on 1 m (3 ft) diameter steel pilings which are imbedded 15-18 m (50-60 ft) below the ocean bottom.

The pier deck is 7.7 m (25 ft) above the sea surface and was designed to stay above the storm waves. However, the the deck has been overtopped, particularly during the Halloween storm of 1991.

pier shot   big waves
Large waves at the start of the Halloween storm of 1991 (left): a view from under the pier (right)

FRF Tower

The Field Research Facility Tower is 43 m (120 ft) tall and was built in 1986. It is used to support radio antennae and video cameras. For more information about the video system mounted on the tower, click here.

At the top of the tower is a 2.1 square meter (7 square ft) room equipped with 110 volt power, an intercom to the FRF Building, and coax video cables to the FRF's video lab. This room also has the best view in Duck!!

FRF Buildings and Offices

The panoramic picture below shows a view of the buildings taken from the observation tower (above) looking south.


View from the Video Tower

There are two major buildings. The main laboratory, completed in 1980, houses the main computer system, electronics repair facility, and offices.


Main Laboratory & Computer Room

The Workshop/Conference Room Facilities include a garage, work shops, SCUBA locker, conference room (26 x 35.5 ft) and technical library. The conference room is equipped with a rear projection screen for video, computer, and slide projection and has a great view of the Atlantic. The conference facility easily handles 30 people and is available for use.


Workshop/Conference Building & Technical Library


Conference Room