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INSTRUCTORS:
Pilar Díaz-Carrasco, Ph.D.
Tim C. Hammer, Dr.
Xuan Ma
Dylan Sanderson, Ph.D.
Course Length: 1 hour
Purpose and Background
These presentations were recorded at the International Conference on Coastal Engineering 2026.
Intelligent Preventive Tool for Climate-Resilient Maritime Structures (14 minutes)
This presentation introduces the development of an intelligent decision-support tool for preventive maintenance of maritime structures. Participants will learn how structural health monitoring, climate projections, and hydraulic performance assessments can be integrated into a unified framework. The session discusses how breakwaters, groins, and seawalls may become increasingly vulnerable due to aging infrastructure and climate change. Attendees will explore methods for combining structural geometry, environmental conditions, and failure-mode analyses into risk-based classifications. The presentation highlights the use of machine learning and open-access databases to support future maintenance planning. Engineers will gain insight into prioritizing inspections and interventions before major failures occur. The findings support proactive management of coastal infrastructure under changing environmental conditions.
Hydrodynamic Surge Uplift Pressures at Elevated Horizontal Slabs Caused by Large-scale Dry-bed Bore-type Wave Propagation (15 minutes)
This presentation investigates uplift pressures generated when bore-type waves propagate beneath elevated slabs and foundations. Participants will learn how fast-moving surge waves interact with elevated structures and produce localized pressure concentrations. The session presents large-scale laboratory experiments designed to measure effective and local uplift pressures under extreme hydrodynamic conditions. Attendees will examine differences between average uplift loading and peak localized pressure loading. The presentation discusses pressure amplification mechanisms, flow confinement effects, and structural design implications. Engineers will gain practical insight into wave-induced uplift loading on coastal infrastructure. The findings contribute to improving structural design approaches for elevated coastal systems.
Linked Statistical - Hydrodynamic Model in Louisiana (14 minutes)
This presentation explores a framework for generating synthetic hurricane events and linking them to hydrodynamic surge assessments. Participants will learn how statistical hurricane simulation techniques can be combined with coastal flood modeling to estimate future hazards. The session introduces Markov-chain-based hurricane generation methods and compares them with more traditional storm scenario approaches. Attendees will examine methods for selecting storm samples and defining screening regions for surge analysis. The presentation discusses uncertainty quantification, confidence intervals, and simulation convergence. Engineers will gain insight into balancing computational efficiency with hazard characterization accuracy. The findings support more robust hurricane surge forecasting and risk estimation.
Overland Surge and Wave Modeling through the Built Environment Using Xbeach (14 minutes)
This presentation examines how buildings influence overland flood propagation during coastal storms. Participants will learn how explicit representation of buildings changes wave transformation, surge propagation, and flood hazard estimates. The session demonstrates the use of XBeach to simulate building interactions, sheltering effects, reflection, diffraction, and progressive structural failure. Attendees will explore comparisons between simulations with buildings and traditional roughness-based approaches. The presentation highlights how damage propagation can alter flood behavior over time. Engineers will gain insight into building-aware flood modeling and urban coastal hazard assessments. The findings support improved prediction of infrastructure impacts during extreme events.
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain how structural health monitoring and climate data can be integrated into risk-based maintenance planning for maritime structures.
- Describe how bore-type wave propagation generates uplift pressures beneath elevated coastal structures.
- Discuss how linked statistical and hydrodynamic models improve hurricane surge hazard assessment.
- Explain how the built environment influences overland surge and wave propagation during coastal flooding events.
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]