35409 - Coastal Engineering

Academic Year 2023/2024

Learning outcomes

The course focuses on sustainable nature based solutions for beach protection and recovery in the presence of climate change. Students will be introduced to processes that characterize the evolution of the coastal environment and beaches, by considering future climate scenarios and environmental impact assessment. Dune mainteinance and recovery, management of freshwater in coastal areas in the presence of salt intrusion and sea level rise, and ecology of beaches will be the main focuses.

Course contents

The course will introduce and describe the processes that characterize the interaction between the oceanic environment and coasts.

The course is organized in 2 parts:

Part 1 The coastal environment 3 CFU
Part 2 Ocean Engineering 3 CFU

Specific topics that will be taught are:

  • Coast management and beach design
  • Beach hydrodynamics and morphodynamics
  • Sea wave monitoring
  • Nature based solutions for coastal protection
  • Sea wave mechanics

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes will be distributed by the teachers.

Teaching methods

The course is taught through frontal lectures in presence. Part of them are dedicated to simple data analysis and solutions. These lectures will be developed at the computer.

Assessment methods

The preparation of the student will be assessed through an oral examination.

The exam is passed if the student proves to be prepared on the theoretical principles and analytical derivations that were taught during the lectures. The teacher will explicitly mention to students during the lectures what are the basic questions that one needs to rigorously address in order to pass the exam. The speaking capability will also be evaluated. The laude is reserved to students who are excellently prepared and prove to have integrated their preparation with personal in-depth analysis.

Teaching tools

Teachers will made available notes. Scientific papers may be distributed during the lectures as well as summaries of recent research outcomes.

Lectures will be delivered with the physical presence of the teacher and will also be made available via online streaming.

Moreover, the teacher makes available videos of the lectures (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzpKSIoIBFCOi6rqXfMoUVrEZ_YcuBG9N).

Links to further information

https://www.albertomontanari.it

Office hours

See the website of Alberto Montanari

See the website of Armando Brath