Hydraulic Engineering - Coastal Engineering and Port Development

Start next run: October 2008 (open for registration)
Duration: 18 Months
Location: UNESCO-IHE, Delft, the Netherlands

The management of resources in coastal areas and related hydraulic engineering works has increased in importance and complexity and often requires innovative solutions.

Large coastal engineering projects undertaken in The Netherlands include major land reclamation works, the Delta Works (1958-1986) including storm surge barriers, and the Europort / Maasvlakte extension of the Port of Rotterdam. This specialisation transfers knowledge available in The Netherlands to developing countries and countries in transition.

Participant Profile

Participants typically have a BSc degree in civil engineering or a related field and a hydraulic background. He or she has worked for at least three years in professional practice or at a university or research establishment, and is eager to acquire practical skills and knowledge to solve engineering and coastal zone / port management problems.

A future career may be in government services, consultancy, or education and research institutes.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of Hydraulic Engineering – Coastal Engineering and Port Development, graduates will be able to:

• Define and analyse coastal problems and conceive alternative solutions.
• Apply latest developments in planning, design and management to coastal engineering and port development.
• Understand and quantify the interactions between a coastal or port project and the environment.
• Organise and co-operate in a multi-disciplinary group to plan and implement an integrated coastal zone management plan (coastal specialisation).
• Understand developments in maritime transport, the role of a port in the logistic chain, and aspects of containerisation and port management (port specialisation).

Course Contents

Hydraulic Engineering – Coastal Engineering and Port Development is subdivided into two sub-specialisations that have many modules in common, but also have their own characteristics. During the common part of the programme attention is given to the understanding of basic coastal processes and the design of coastal structures such as breakwaters, mooring facilities (marine structures), dikes and revetments and closure dams. Execution and environmental aspects are discussed in depth.

The common part of the specialisation contains modules that cover the following subjects:

• Geosciences covers geo-engineering, shallow foundations, irrigation and drainage design and irrigation methods.
• Coastal structures I covers alternative types of breakwater and factors governing their selection, offshore berthing structures (bulk cargo terminals etc.) and approaches to the design of coastal structures.
• Coastal structures II covers engineering design of breakwaters, from concept to detailed layout, and design and construction of offshore berthing structures (bulk cargo terminals etc.).
• Coastal hazards and environment includes dikes, revetments and closure dams; structures and vessels used in the offshore industry; geomarine investigations and survey programmes; interactions between a project and the environment and the environmental aspects of harbours.

After the common part, participants follow modules to specialise in either Coastal Engineering or Port Development.

The coastal specialisation focus on coastal defence works, coastline management, integrated coastal zone management, coastal hydrodynamics and processes, and sediment transport and morphology. Special attention is paid to coastal protection works to manage beach erosion and the design of sea dikes as flood defence structures. Major exercises are conducted on coastline management and coastal zone management.

The port specialisation concentrates on port planning, design and construction, and contains an international port seminar. Special attention is paid to foundations of port structures, quay wall design and geotechnical aspects. A master plan, the preliminary layout of a new port and the design of a container terminal are core elements.

Several stand-alone seminars are offered, including a Dredging and Reclamation Seminar, an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Seminar (coastal specialisation) and the International Port Seminar (port specialisation).