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INSTRUCTORS:
Brooks Barton
Mohamed A. Dabees, Ph.D., PE
Marc Damon, PE
Andrew Wycklendt, PE, BCCE
Christopher Creed, P.E.
Course Length: 1 hour
Purpose and Background
These presentations were recorded at the International Conference on Coastal Engineering 2026.
Galveston Beaches Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (15 minutes)
This presentation explores the historical evolution, current condition, and future management of Galveston's beaches. Participants will learn how the 1900 Galveston Hurricane reshaped coastal engineering practice and led to landmark projects such as the Galveston Seawall and city elevation program. The session reviews modern beach monitoring programs, annual shoreline surveys, and post-storm assessments used to evaluate beach performance. Attendees will examine data collected across engineered and non-engineered beach systems and learn how shoreline change, dune evolution, and sediment volumes are measured. The presentation highlights impacts from Hurricane Beryl and discusses how monitoring supports FEMA recovery efforts and future nourishment planning. Engineers will gain insight into balancing coastal protection, recreation, and resilience. The findings demonstrate the importance of long-term monitoring in shoreline management decisions.
Morphologic Evolution of Dunes in Response to Successive Hurricanes in Southwest Florida (16 minutes)
This presentation investigates how dune systems and associated nature-based features respond to repeated hurricane impacts in southwest Florida. Participants will learn how vegetation, dune restoration, beach recovery, and mangrove systems contribute to coastal resilience. The session uses field observations and numerical modeling to evaluate dune performance before and after Hurricanes Ian and Milton. Attendees will explore how vegetation affects overwash, sediment transport, and system recovery following major storms. The presentation highlights adaptive restoration strategies involving dunes, mangroves, and beach nourishment. Engineers will gain insight into incorporating nature-based features into shoreline resilience planning. The findings emphasize the importance of post-storm adaptation and continuous management.
Development of a Beach and Dune Management Plan for the North Shore of O'ahu (13 minutes)
This presentation presents the development of a comprehensive beach management strategy for a highly dynamic coastline on the North Shore of O'ahu. Participants will learn how shoreline erosion, sediment transport, and seasonal beach rotation influence long-term coastal management decisions. The session combines lidar analysis, shoreline monitoring, sediment budget assessments, and community-driven planning. Attendees will examine how natural sediment exchange processes can be incorporated into adaptive beach management practices. The presentation highlights proposed strategies such as beach maintenance, dune restoration, sand recycling, and shoreline access preservation. Engineers will gain practical knowledge on data-driven coastal planning in environmentally and culturally significant areas. The findings demonstrate how coastal processes can be leveraged to support sustainable beach management.
Town of Hilton Head Island: 40 Years of Successful Beach Management (14 minutes)
This presentation reviews four decades of beach management activities on Hilton Head Island and examines the factors contributing to a long-term successful shoreline management program. Participants will learn how comprehensive monitoring, beach nourishment, sediment management, and shoreline stabilization have been integrated into a sustainable strategy. The session highlights the role of offshore sand resources, beach performance tracking, funding mechanisms, and community involvement. Attendees will examine historical shoreline change data, sediment budgets, and beach maintenance practices. The presentation demonstrates how local governments can implement effective, self-sustaining beach management systems. Engineers will gain practical lessons from one of the longest-running beach management programs in the United States. The findings provide valuable guidance for future coastal resilience initiatives.
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain how historical events, engineering interventions, and monitoring data guide modern beach management in Galveston.
- Discuss how successive hurricanes influence dune evolution and the performance of nature-based coastal protection measures.
- Describe how sediment transport patterns and shoreline monitoring inform adaptive beach management planning.
- Identify the key components of a successful long-term beach management and nourishment program.
Assessment of Learning Outcomes
Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-test assessment (true-false, multiple choice, and/or fill in the blank questions).
Who Should Attend?
- Coastal Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Coastal Scientist
- Coastal Resilience Program Manager
- Government Coastal Zone Manager
- University Student or Researcher
How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion
To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 365 days of the course purchase.
How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?
1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]