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INSTRUCTORS:
Kanta Okamoto
Josette E. Audi
Erick R. Velasco-Reyes
Kanoa Pick
Sota Azami
Course Length: 1 hour
Purpose and Background
These presentations were recorded at the International Conference on Coastal Engineering 2026.
Coastal Protection Design by Separating Protection and Capacity Level (13 minutes)
This presentation introduces a new coastal protection design methodology that separates protection level from structural capacity level rather than treating them as a single design criterion. Participants will learn how flood risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis can be integrated to identify economically efficient protection strategies. The session demonstrates how different combinations of crest elevation and structural resistance can be evaluated against a wide range of storm scenarios. Attendees will explore the role of stochastic typhoon modeling, wave overtopping calculations, and inundation damage estimation in design optimization. The presentation discusses tradeoffs among initial construction cost, maintenance cost, and recovery cost. Engineers will gain insight into performance-based coastal infrastructure design. The findings demonstrate how risk-informed approaches can outperform conventional design practices.
Model-To-Data Validation of Damage Models for Buildings in Coastal Regions: A Case Study of Hurricane Ian (2022) (11 minutes)
This presentation evaluates the performance of several building damage prediction models using observed damage data from Hurricane Ian. Participants will learn how deterministic and probabilistic models differ in their treatment of coastal flood damage. The session examines the role of water depth, first-floor elevation, wave effects, foundation type, and structural characteristics in predicting damage outcomes. Attendees will compare model predictions against building-level observations collected after the hurricane. The presentation highlights strengths and limitations of various modeling approaches and discusses uncertainty in damage assessments. Engineers will gain a better understanding of model validation methodologies and performance evaluation. The findings help improve confidence in future coastal risk assessments.
Modeling Building-aware Overland Flood and Dynamic Collapse During Hurricane Ian (13 minutes)
This presentation explores a new approach for representing building failure and collapse during coastal flooding simulations. Participants will learn how buildings influence local flood hydraulics through blockage, sheltering effects, flow acceleration, and scour development. The session demonstrates how building collapse can be incorporated into hydrodynamic simulations using dynamic structural removal during storm events. Attendees will examine how collapse changes flood pathways and transfers hazards to nearby buildings. The presentation highlights interactions between flow fields and built environments that are not captured in conventional flood models. Engineers will gain insight into cascading flood impacts and neighborhood-scale risk assessment. The findings support more realistic simulation of urban coastal flooding.
The Effect of Engineered Reefs on Wave Surfability (14 minutes)
This presentation investigates how engineered reefs can modify wave breaking and improve surfing conditions. Participants will learn how reef geometry affects wave transformation, wave steepening, and surf point location. The session presents CFD simulations that evaluate the influence of reef height, length, and position on wave breaking behavior. Attendees will explore how engineered reefs can shift wave breaking offshore and generate more favorable surfing conditions. The presentation introduces scaling relationships that connect reef characteristics with surfability metrics. Engineers will gain insight into using reef design to influence wave behavior while balancing coastal engineering objectives. The findings support future recreational and coastal infrastructure applications.
Effect of Submerged Vegetation on Reducing Wave Overtopping (10 minutes)
This presentation examines the effectiveness of submerged vegetation as a nature-based solution for reducing wave overtopping at coastal defenses. Participants will learn how vegetation modifies wave transformation, flow velocities, and overtopping discharge. The session presents laboratory experiments comparing conditions with and without vegetation. Attendees will investigate hydraulic mechanisms responsible for wave energy dissipation and overtopping reduction. The presentation evaluates the performance of hybrid green-gray infrastructure systems and compares measured results with conventional design approaches. Engineers will gain practical insight into incorporating vegetation into coastal protection projects. The findings support the use of nature-based solutions for improving coastal resilience.
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain how separating protection level and structural capacity level can improve coastal protection design decisions.
- Discuss how different flood damage models predict building performance and how validation improves model reliability.
- Explain how building collapse can alter flood hydraulics and redistribute hazards within coastal communities.
- Describe how engineered reef geometry influences wave breaking behavior and surfability characteristics.
- Explain how submerged vegetation reduces wave overtopping and contributes to coastal protection performance.
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]