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INSTRUCTORS:
Abhishek Sharma, Ph.D., PE
Vivek A. Bheeroo
Friso S. Dam
Ana S. Mendonça
Course Length: 1 hour
Purpose and Background
These presentations were recorded at the International Conference on Coastal Engineering 2026.
A Framework for Assessment of Vessel-Induced Scour in Cohesive Soils (15 minutes)
This presentation introduces a practical framework for evaluating vessel-induced scour in cohesive seabed materials found in ports, harbors, and confined waterways. Participants will learn why modern deep-draft vessels, high-powered propulsion systems, and low under-keel clearances create increasingly complex scour challenges. The session presents methodologies for combining hydrodynamic modeling, sediment characterization, and scour prediction approaches. Attendees will explore the use of CFD simulations, simplified vessel hydrodynamic methods, Sedflume testing, and erodibility charts for cohesive soils. Real-world applications from the Portland Harbor Superfund Site and a cruise terminal are presented to demonstrate implementation. Engineers will gain insight into selecting appropriate modeling approaches based on project scale, data availability, and computational requirements. The presentation provides guidance for managing risk and protecting critical waterfront infrastructure.
Influence of Ship Wake Dynamics on Ocean Circulation in Galveston Bay, Texas (15 minutes)
This presentation examines how ship traffic influences circulation, turbulence, and mixing processes in Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel. Participants will learn how drone-based measurements, particle image velocimetry (PIV), and remote sensing techniques are used to quantify surface currents and ship-wake dynamics. The session investigates persistent turbulent wakes, foam scars, and the interactions between vessel traffic and ambient circulation patterns. Attendees will explore how vessel-generated turbulence contributes to mixing, transport, and stratification throughout the bay. The presentation also demonstrates novel applications of drone observations and proper orthogonal decomposition to study wake evolution. Engineers will gain practical knowledge of emerging measurement technologies for coastal monitoring. The findings improve understanding of vessel-induced hydrodynamic impacts in busy navigation channels.
Coastal Flooding Incident Guide Improvement English South (West) Coast (19 minutes)
This presentation describes improvements to a coastal flood incident guide used to support emergency response along the southern coast of England. Participants will learn why water-level-only approaches may not fully represent actual flood hazards and impacts. The session presents an integrated methodology combining hydrodynamic modeling, wave modeling, overtopping analysis, flood mapping, and multivariate extreme value analysis. Attendees will examine how storm surge, waves, wave setup, and overtopping collectively influence flooding severity. The presentation highlights use of the North Sea Storm Atlas and advanced probability methods to develop impact-based flood classifications. Engineers will gain insight into improving flood warning systems and emergency planning tools. The findings support more realistic and actionable coastal flood risk assessments.
Bridging Sea and Society: Testing Hybrid Coastal Structures for Safer and Inclusive Shores (15 minutes)
This presentation explores the development and testing of hybrid coastal protection structures designed to improve resilience, biodiversity, and community engagement. Participants will learn about combining traditional coastal engineering approaches with ecological enhancement measures. The session presents physical model testing of rock revetments, stepped revetments, and innovative eco-engineered structures. Attendees will evaluate how different structural configurations influence wave run-up, overtopping, and hydraulic performance. The presentation also discusses habitat-enhancing concrete blocks and biodiversity-focused coastal upgrades. Engineers will gain practical understanding of designing multifunctional coastal infrastructure that balances engineering performance with environmental objectives. The findings contribute to development of future technical guidance for hybrid coastal solutions.
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain how vessel-induced hydrodynamics and cohesive sediment properties influence scour development and risk assessment.
- Discuss how ship wakes influence circulation, mixing, and transport processes in estuarine environments.
- Describe how multivariate coastal hazard analysis can improve coastal flood classification and emergency response planning.
- Identify how hybrid coastal structures can simultaneously improve hydraulic performance, ecological value, and community benefits.
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]