Coastal Engineering Overview

Principles

Definition

Coastal engineering is a specialized field of civil engineering focused on the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of structures and systems in the coastal zone. It investigates the dynamic interactions between marine processes, coastal landforms, and human activities to address challenges such as erosion, flooding, and resource management while facilitating sustainable development and infrastructure.

Ontological type

Core Processes

Design Principles

Modeling and Analysis

Key developments

Key Figures

Nearshore Morphodynamics Paradigm era

Paul D. Komar [1] was affiliated with Oregon State University [3] and the University of St Andrews [4] during the Nearshore Morphodynamics paradigm era (1959–1988). His key contributions include Longshore sand transport on beaches [7] and The mechanics of sand transport on beaches [8], advancing cross-shore process understanding and enabling three-dimensional shore-evolution modelling. R. T. Guza [2] was affiliated with University of California, San Diego [5] and University of California, Berkeley [6] during the Nearshore Morphodynamics paradigm era. His key contributions include Edge waves and beach cusps [9] and Excitation of edge waves by waves incident on a beach [10], clarifying edge-wave dynamics and informing predictive models for nearshore engineering.

Predictive Transport Modeling era

David T. Sandwell[1] is associated with University of California, San Diego[3] and University of California, Los Angeles[4] during the Predictive Transport Modeling era. His key contribution, Global Sea Floor Topography from Satellite Altimetry and Ship Depth Soundings[6] (1997), advanced high-resolution mapping of the seafloor and informed the formulation of predictive transport models for coastal engineering in this era. Walter H. F. Smith[2] is associated with University of California, San Diego[3] and Columbia University[5] during the Predictive Transport Modeling era. His key contribution with the paper Global Sea Floor Topography from Satellite Altimetry and Ship Depth Soundings[6] (1997) helped establish essential seafloor topography constraints for nearshore and offshore design loads in predictive transport frameworks.

Data-driven Coastal Coupling era

Richard C. Thompson [1] is a leading figure in coastal debris science during the Data-driven Coastal Coupling era, with affiliations at University of California, San Diego [3] and Imperial College London [4]. His key contributions include Accumulation of Microplastic on Shorelines Woldwide: Sources and Sinks [7], The deep sea is a major sink for microplastic debris [8], and Accumulations of microplastic on shorelines worldwide: sources and sinks [9], which advanced understanding of global debris pathways and underscored the importance of integrating coastal land and ocean processes in this era. Tamara S. Galloway [2] is a prominent researcher in environmental plastics and global pollution screening for the Data-driven Coastal Coupling era, with affiliations at Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry [5] and University of Cambridge [6]. Her contributions, highlighted by Accumulation of Microplastic on Shorelines Woldwide: Sources and Sinks [7] and Accumulations of microplastic on shorelines worldwide: sources and sinks [9], helped translate debris findings into actionable monitoring and resilience design implications for coastal regions.