DR. YOSHIMI GODA, PROFESSOR EMERITUS
YOKOHAMA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, JAPAN
"Development of Random Wave Applications in Coastal Engineering"
An overview is made on a historical development of the applications of random wave concept in coastal engineering since around the 1970s. Spectral representation of sea waves with directional spreading is presented with applications for wave refraction and diffraction analysis. Statistical wave characteristics are discussed for appropriate selection of representative wave heights and periods. Surf zone hydrodynamics are examined by means of a new wave random breaking model and the effects of wave nonlinearity on wave heights are exhibited based on field data. New prediction formulas are presented for the wave overtopping of seawalls and wave transmission at low-crested structures.
LARRY HILDEBRAND, MANAGER SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES & ECOSYSTEMS, ENVIRONMENT CANADA
"Planning And Managing Coastal Zones In The Face Of Uncertainty”
Canada has been considering the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to the planning and management of its coastal zones for more than thirty years, but has yet to put in place an integrated coastal management regime. More recent policy attention by the federal and provincial/territorial governments give hope that the key partners in such an ambitious endeavour are willing to work together in a coordinated and future-looking way to respond to existing stressors and plan for those that growing evidence indicates will have a significant impact on our coastal ecosystems, infrastructure and communities. These positive developments are encouraging, but perhaps not broad enough in scope to encompass issues as large and complex as climate change. The lead and/or driving agencies at the federal and provincial/territorial levels are typically those mandated for fisheries and natural resource exploitation and the current Canadian efforts are focused on developing institutional structures for coastal and ocean management and the creation of conservation and socio-economic objectives, marine protected areas and benthic mapping programs. Much less attention is being paid to the physical processes and their impact on coastal zones. Stronger links between the coastal science and engineering community and the coastal and ocean management leads is warranted.
PROFESSOR EDMUND PENNING-ROWSELL, Ph.D., OBE, UNIVERSITIES OF MIDDLESEX AND OXFORD, UK
“What price the protection of London from the sea?”
Sea level rise poses a significant threat to London, despite the construction of the Thames Barrier in the 1970s/1980s. Not only might the barrier be insufficient to protect London from severe storms, but also the associated sea walls and other structures will be nearing the end of their lives by the 2030s/50s. This issue has been investigated by the UK Environment Agency in a Euro 20 million project to determine when and what could be done to forestall the risk of flooding, whilst developing sustainable solutions for the management of water levels in the Estuary. This presentation analyses the risk of flooding to the year 2170 using official forecasts of sea level rise, and examines the costs of benefits of different strategic options. One of the conclusions from this analysis is that we can wait to make some decisions about major new engineering works, but that we must in the meantime strive to reduce the increase in flood risk that the development of London and its economy is generating.
BRIAN C. ROBERTS, P.E., M.ASCE, WATER RESOURCES LEARNING CENTER
“Climate Change – What Does it Mean to the Civil Engineer?”
Several national studies have begun to discuss potential infrastructure impacts due to climate change within the United States. Recently, the ASCE International Activities Committee conducted a Climate Change Symposium and Roundtable Discussion identifying some of the issues and possible focus areas for the civil engineering community. This presentation will cover some of the recent US climate change activities that highlight the need for infrastructure adaptation and mitigation in the civil engineering community.
DR. TAD MURTY, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, DEPT. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING,
UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA
“Hazards from the ocean that can cause coastal inundation”
In their pure form, there are mainly three different types of wave motion in the oceans. First are the longitudinal waves, in which as the wave propagates in a horizontal direction, the particles move back and forth. An example of such a wave is the sound wave, also termed acoustic wave. The second type is the horizontally transverse wave or Rossby wave, which exists due to the variation of the Coriolis parameter with latitude. In these waves, as the wave moves towards west, the particles move towards north and south. The third type is the vertically transverse wave, in which as the wave moves in a horizontal direction, the particles move up and down in the direction of gravity. Examples are light waves and gravity waves. The gravity waves can be broadly divided into two categories, namely short waves and long waves. Wind waves, and swell come under the category of short waves and while they can attain great amplitudes in the ocean, because of their short periods and wavelengths, they do not cause significant land inundation. On the other hand, long gravity waves have longer periods and wavelengths and they can cause major land inundation, loss of life and damage to coastal infrastructure. There are mainly three types of long gravity waves: tides, tsunamis and storm surges. Tides are always present in the oceans, while tsunamis and storm surges are episodic events. Most tsunamis are mainly from under-ocean earthquakes and warning systems are now in existence for the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Storm surges occur from the wind and pressure fields associated with tropical and extra-tropical cyclones. Some of the most damaging surges have occurred due to hurricanes, which are generated over the ocean basins. The warning systems currently in operation for storm surges deal mostly with synoptic scale forcing and Rissaga from meso-scale forcing and Kallakkadal from remote forcing need to be included, to protect the coastlines of the world.
TERRY FULLER, BENG, CENG, MICE, MCIWEN
JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC., JACOBS RIVERS AND COASTAL
“Managing increasing hazards and higher demands on coastal infrastructure”
Our world’s coastlines are under increasing pressure. The potential impacts of climate change are now well publicised and acknowledged as being a significant source of this pressure through an increasing frequency and severity of storm conditions. However, there are a number of other factors facing coastal managers which, when combined with climate change, result in significant additional demand on our infrastructure. These include funding constraints, changes in policy and governance, changing land use interests and other socio-economic issues.
This paper will demonstrate how these various sources of pressure impact on the type, scope and timing of solutions that are chosen. Particular emphasis will be given to hard defence solutions although the paper will demonstrate how softer engineering responses are becoming increasingly appropriate.
The paper will also examine the impact of increasing marine hazards on the residual design life of existing coastal defences and the likelihood and consequence of failure.
MICHAEL ORBACH, Ph.D., PROFESSOR OF MARINE AFFAIRS AND POLICY, DUKE UNIVERSITY MARINE LAB
“Our Migrating Coasts and Cities”
The oceans cover almost three-quarters of the earth’s surface. Earth-ocean-atmosphere interactions determine our climate and the effects of climate on human existence. Some of the most important human-environment interactions occur at the boundary between earth and ocean – the coast. By the year 2025, three-quarters of all humans will live at or near a coastline. By that same year, twenty of the projected 30 “megacities” (over 8 million population) will be in coastal areas, and half of them will be significantly threatened by coastal hazards. Human response to sea level rise – at a conservatively estimated one-half meter in the next century, with some models suggesting up to 2 meters – is the sleeping giant of coastal policy issues. This presentation describes the necessary steps to planning for the effects of climate change, and in particular sea level rise, in the face of what will be our migrating coasts and cities.
PROFESSOR NORM CATTO, PROFESSOR OF GEOGRAPHY, MEMORIAL
UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND
“Knut’s First Law: Change, Variation, Risk, and Adaptation in Coastal Regions”
Ongoing climate change and variation has impacted coastlines and infrastructure throughout the world. Although the styles of coastal response and the issues raised by coastal erosion and storm activity have not changed, the frequency and severity of both events and consequences are changing relatively rapidly. Faced with impacts resulting from a combination of natural and human-driven causes, and with development pressure in coastal areas remaining high, effective risk assessment and adaptation is necessary.
PROFESSOR ROBERT NICHOLLS, BSC, PHD, SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE TYNDALL CENTRE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH, SCHOOL OF SOUTHAMPTON
“Global climate change: Implications for coastal systems and low-lying areas”
This talk is based on the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, Chapter 6 published in 2007. Since the IPCC Third Assessment Report in 2001 our understanding of the implications of climate change for coastal systems and low-lying areas (henceforth referred to as “coasts”) has increased substantially and six important policy-relevant messages emerged in the recent assessment:
· Coasts are experiencing the adverse consequences of hazards related to climate and sea level
· Coasts will be exposed to increasing risks over coming decades due to many compounding climate-change factors
· The impact of climate change on coasts is exacerbated by increasing human-induced pressures
· Adaptation for the coasts of developing countries will be more challenging than for coasts of developed countries, due to constraints on adaptive capacity
· Adaptation costs for vulnerable coasts are much less than the costs of inaction
· The unavoidability of sea-level rise even in the longer-term frequently conflicts with present-day human development patterns and trends.
The basis for these judgements and their implications for future research will be discussed and augmented with more recent research results
S. JEFFRESS WILLIAMS, COASTAL MARINE GEOLOGIST, U.S. GEOLOGIC
SURVEY, WOODS HOLE SCIENCE CENTER
"Sea-level Rise and Storm Effects on Coasts Under Changing Global Climate"
Coastal science is focused on understanding how landforms have evolved and forecasting future change in response to sea-level rise (SLR). Research has formulated a conceptual framework regarding the primary factors and processes that drive coastal change. The geologic record shows that sea level is highly variable with levels ~ 5 m higher and ~120 m lower. Subsidence can further add to SLR. Current techniques used to predict coastal-change, however, do not accurately reflect the current scientific understanding of coastal change. Our ability to quantify impacts of SLR to inform policymakers remains limited.
A body of scientific information shows that global climate throughout Earth’s history is highly variable with driving forces and complex feedbacks. Scientific consensus, however, is that the build-up of greenhouse gases from fossil fuel burning since the late 19th century has increased global mean temperatures and is primarily responsible for the environmental changes being observed. Climate-change assessments suggest global sea-level will rise ~1 m by year 2100, more than 3 times the 20th century rise. Impacts will include increased erosion, flooding, saltwater intrusion, wetland loss, and threats to human infrastructure.
Future rise will result from thermal expansion of warming oceans and addition of melt water from glaciers and ice sheets. In addition, consensus is strengthening that the rate of SLR will accelerate in the future due to climatic factors that have not been fully considered until recently. These could accelerate SLR by ~5 m over the next several centuries.
The USGS through the U.S. Climate Change Science Program has just completed an assessment (SAP 4.1) of potential future coastal changes associated with SLR. One finding is that current approaches to predicting coastal change result in an oversimplification of potential coastal hazards and a wide disparity in public awareness of risks and vulnerabilities to accelerating SLR.
MELANIE NADEAU, MANAGER, OCEAN ENERGY, NATURAL RESOURCES CANADA
"Marine Renewable Energy - Growing Canada's Renewable Energy Supply"
Canada’s wave and tidal energy resources have been recognized worldwide as one of the richest in the world. The National Energy Board forecasts about 20,000 MW of ocean energy capacity in Canada. These oceans are an enormous energy resource, with excellent market potential for clean, renewable and sustainable energy but equally important is the predictability and security of supply that this resource offers.
Research and development testing on marine energy devices has been ongoing in Canada for over 25 years. Technology R&D, tank testing, and demonstration is occurring on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, keeping Canada in the forefront of ocean energy device development. Canadian technologies and research facilities are on the leading edge in several of the areas within the industry, with potential for a b and sustained future in research and development, manufacturing, deployment and power generation.
DR. R.J. LOVELAND, F.INST.P., HEAD OF ‘SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND INDUSTRY WALES’, WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT
"Wales: the Saudi Arabia of marine renewables?"
Over the last century, Wales has been at the forefront at a number of major energy system transformations. However, none have been as important as the current drive towards to a low carbon energy economy. Fortunately Wales is blessed with considerable renewable resources especially in respect of wind, wave and tidal energy. Consequently, the Welsh Assembly Government believes that by 2025, Wales could generate considerable more electricity from renewables than it consumes as a nation. Much of this will be from marine based sources, ranging through capturing the massive tidal range energy of the Severn Estuary-of up to 9GW, constructing a number of large GW scale offshore-wind farms, through harnessing the multi- GW capacity of several energetic, yet relatively protected, wave and tidal stream zones off the 1000km of Wales' coasts.
From a sustainable development perspective, capturing these massive energies present considerable economic, environmental, innovation/technology and public understanding challenges. In his presentation, Dr Loveland, as head of Sustainable Energy and Industry in the Welsh Assembly Government will discuss these marine energy resources and sustainable development challenges and outline the holistic joined-up policies which will be necessary to overcome these challenges, not only in Wales and the UK but also globally.
MICHAEL MURPHY, DIRECTOR OF RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGY, DEVINE TARBELL & ASSC. (DTA), PORTLAND, MAINE ****** PAPER NOT AVAILABLE*****
"Wave and Tidal Energy…U.S. Project Development – A Status Overview”
New technologies, new regulatory developments and increased interest in clean renewable energy sources have encouraged the exploration of non-traditional energy sources. Ocean currents, waves and tides represent an untapped renewable energy source for the future. There is global interest in continuing the development of these technologies as well as permitting pilot and commercial scale projects. Michael Murphy is involved in some of the first tidal and wave energy projects in the United States. He will provide an overview of industry status and discuss the environmental engineering and regulatory issues associated with the development of ocean energy projects in the United States.
DR. WILLIAM KAMPHUIS, PROFESSOR EMERITUS, DEPT. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY, ONTARIO, CANADA
“Moving Forward in Coastal Design, Management and Education”
This lecture will attempt to encapsulate some of the discussions of the previous two days and how to proceed in light of uncertainties and changing conditions. It will begin by discussing design of contemporary systems that should consist of physico-environmental subsystems, supported by the socio-economic subsystem and we will look at the contemporary decision making process as the tool to achieve this design. We will address contemporary concepts such as failure, resilience, risk and minimum cost analysis. We will summarize some serious design concerns and we conclude with a new job description for coastal engineers and scientists and for coastal educators.
PROF. ROGER VENABLES, FICE, QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY, BELFAST, UK
“Sustainable Development Principles, Innovation and Coastal Development”
Roger Venables’ starting point will be the ICE-led Sustainable Development Strategy and Action Plan, and the Royal Academy of Engineering’s guide Engineering for Sustainable Development: Guiding Principles, published in 2005 and for which he was the (paid) co-Editor and a contributor as RAEng Visiting Professor at Queen’s University, Belfast. He will link the RAEng Principles to recent innovations in UK thinking on what sustainable development is and is not, and on how to deliver it, including use of the CEEQUAL environmental assessment and awards scheme, and present his thoughts on how, at a strategic level, these can all be applied to coastal development and protection.
The Sustainable Development Strategy and Action Plan can be downloaded from http://www.ice.org.uk/knowledge/document_details.asp?Docu_id=1757&intPage=1&faculty=2.
The Royal Academy Guide can be downloaded from http://www.raeng.org.uk/events/pdf/Engineering_for_Sustainable_Development.pdf.
CEEQUAL is the assessment and awards scheme for improving sustainability in civil engineering and public realm projects. It celebrates the achievement of high environmental and social performance. Awards are made to projects in which the clients, designers and contractors go beyond the legal and environmental minima to achieve distinctive standards of performance. The CEEQUAL Scheme assists project teams to improve their project’s performance on environmental and social issues in a sustainability context. Further details from www.ceequal.com.
DAVID MONGAN, P.E., F.ASCE, ASCE PRESIDENT 2008
“Guiding Principles and other Considerations Relative to Critical Infrastructure as Related to Sea Level Rise”
Critical infrastructure includes systems facilities and assets vital that if destroyed or incapacitated would disrupt the security, economy, health, safety or welfare of the public. Nowhere is critical infrastructure so vital in protecting public health, safety and welfare as it is for sea level cities around the world. In most every case, no sea level city could exist, nor could it sustain itself without manmade defenses, those critical infrastructure systems that protect us from nature’s hazards. Too often, we take our infrastructure for granted – most times it is usually out of sight and out of mind. That is until something goes wrong, often terribly. In the United States in the past few years, we have seen three catastrophic infrastructure failures that have taken innocent lives and have caused huge economic consequences. That has reminded us of the importance and fragility of our critical infrastructure.
The four guiding principles that must be followed to ensure that critical infrastructure systems provide toe the reduction of risk to public safety, health, and welfare and that they remain resilient and sustainable throughout their life-cycle are:
1. Quantifying, communicating, and managing risk.
2. Employing an integrated systems approach.
3. Exercising sound leadership, management, and stewardship in decision-making processes.
4. Adapting critical infrastructure in response to dynamic conditions and practice.
PROF. PAUL JOWITT, PHD, FICE (HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY, EDINBURGH)
“Update on Sustainability Strategies and Signing of Joint Statement on Civil Engineering and Climate Change”
At the last triennial conference, held in London in 2006, ICE, ASCE and CSCE signed a Protocol for Engineering a Sustainable Future for the Planet. This document included a pledge that, “ASCE, CSCE and ICE will each develop, monitor and implement an action plan to help articulate and deliver their contribution to sustainable development”.
Paul Jowitt will update the conference on progress with implementation of these strategies, highlighting key achievements and areas for future work.
The session will end with signature by the Presidents of ICE, ASCE and CSCE of a new joint statement, Civil Engineering and Climate Change. This document will elaborate the role of civil engineers in addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation; set out our shared advice to politicians on public policy priorities and commit the three organisations to produce a road map for the development of low carbon infrastructure.
The Protocol for Engineering a Sustainable Future for the Planet is available at:
http://www.ice.org.uk/downloads/sustainable_future_protocol.pdf