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INSTRUCTORS:
Jin Young Kim
Zhaoyang Song
Marisol Irías Mata
Kenneth T. Roman
Course Length: 1 hour
Purpose and Background
These presentations were recorded at the International Conference on Coastal Engineering 2026.
Boundary-Informed Deep Learning Swan Emulator for Nearshore Wave Forecasting (16 minutes)
This presentation explores the development of a deep learning emulator designed to reproduce SWAN nearshore wave model results with significantly reduced computational cost. Participants will learn how boundary wave information, including offshore swell conditions, improves prediction accuracy in regional coastal forecasting systems. The speaker explains how a hybrid UNet++ and ConvLSTM architecture was trained using Korean coastal wave hindcast data. The presentation will demonstrate how machine learning can replicate complex wave physics while maintaining agreement with traditional numerical models. Case studies involving typhoon events illustrate the strengths and limitations of the approach. Performance comparisons against SWAN simulations and buoy observations reveal the emulator's predictive capability. Attendees will gain insight into how AI tools can support real-time coastal forecasting and ensemble modeling applications.
Mitigating Wave Strikes on T-Shaped Structures via Perforated Plates (13 minutes)
This presentation examines how perforated side plates can improve the hydrodynamic performance of T-shaped coastal bridge structures. Participants will learn about the challenges posed by localized wave impact pressures and uplift forces commonly experienced by coastal bridges during extreme weather events. Experimental results from physical model testing demonstrate how perforated plates reduce pressure concentrations and global structural loads. The speaker discusses the role of turbulence generation and energy dissipation mechanisms caused by flow through the perforations. Comparisons between traditional and modified bridge configurations highlight improvements in both structural protection and wave attenuation. The presentation also explores the potential for combining transportation and coastal protection functions into a single infrastructure system. Attendees will gain practical insight into innovative design strategies for resilient coastal infrastructure.
Quantifying Seaweed Motion and Forces Under Waves and Currents for Energy Attenuation (14 minutes)
This presentation investigates how seaweed responds to hydrodynamic forcing and how these responses may influence coastal energy attenuation. Participants will learn about the unique morphology of seaweed and why its behavior differs from conventional aquatic vegetation models. The speaker introduces dimensionless parameters that characterize the interaction between drag, buoyancy, and structural stiffness. Laboratory experiments using simplified seaweed surrogates reveal different motion and force regimes under varying flow conditions. Results demonstrate how buoyancy and flow dominance influence seaweed posture, deformation, and drag forces. The presentation highlights implications for wave attenuation, offshore infrastructure interactions, and seaweed aquaculture design. Attendees will gain a mechanistic understanding of how flexible marine vegetation responds in dynamic environments.
Wave-Current Interactions: Comparison of Experiments with Non-Linear Analytical Models (16 minutes)
This presentation focuses on the complex interactions between waves and currents in coastal environments and their representation using analytical wave theories. Participants will explore how waves and currents influence each other through processes such as refraction, shoaling, breaking, and momentum exchange. Experimental studies conducted in a large wave flume are compared with predictions from several nonlinear wave theories. The speaker demonstrates how wave shape parameters can be used to evaluate theory performance under different hydraulic conditions. Results highlight situations where conventional wave theories perform well and where they fail to capture important physical processes. Spectral and statistical analyses provide further insight into energy redistribution within wave-current systems. Attendees will better understand the strengths and limitations of commonly used engineering wave theories.
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain how boundary-informed deep learning models can emulate numerical wave simulations for nearshore wave forecasting.
- Describe how perforated plates reduce wave-induced pressures and forces on T-shaped coastal structures.
- Discuss how buoyancy, drag, and flexibility influence seaweed motion and hydrodynamic loading.
- Identify the limitations of nonlinear analytical wave theories when modeling wave-current interactions in coastal environments.
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]