Final Report Summary - SIM.COAST (Numerical Simulation Tools for Protection of Coasts against Flooding and Erosion)
SIM.COAST is a research training project funded by the EU FP7 Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES). The project aims to contribute to protection of coasts against flooding and erosion, through research and training of researchers from five partner organizations:
- Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institut für Wasserbau, Germany (Project Coordinator)
- Universita di Roma TRE (UR3), Italy
- Black Sea & Danube Coastal Association for Research and Development (BDCA), Bulgaria
- Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute (NHRI), China
- Hohai University (HHU), China.
Within the overall goal the project focuses on 6 major research topics, grouped in 6 work packages:
1. COASTAL EROSION: Development and improving existing numerical simulation models on coastal morphology. Links to coastal monitoring / field survey, and use of GIS application
2. COASTAL FLOODING: Study on coastal flooding phenomena, improving coastal flooding process understanding. Development of new, and improvement of existing numerical simulation models supporting flood risk analysis
3. CLIMATE CHANGE, EXTREME EVENTS: Study / evaluate effect of climate change (sea level rise, changes in frequency, duration and intensity of storms). Study extreme events (storm surges, tsunamis)
4. WAVE-STRUCTURE INTERACTION: Develop/improve advanced numerical simulation models. Recommend improved environmentally friendly coastal protection (artificial reefs, beach nourishment, permeable barriers, resistant vegetation)
5. GIS BASED APPROACH: Develop GIS Based approach to provide/handle digitized data for the above numerical models
6. COASTAL PROTECTION DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS: Develop decision support system on protection against flooding and erosion, based on integration of the above decision support system models for environmental risk assessment.
Main results for the SimCOAST - project can be summarized as follows:
- A partner network was established and deepened and an intensive exchange of knowledge and experience was carried out
- Exchange of early stage and experienced researchers between EU and China was carried out, 87.25 m/m visits and stay abroad in total have been reported
- New research findings have been received, and reported at the 5 research seminars
- 5 Books of proceedings with presentations at the research seminars have been printed out and disseminated among project partners and other concerned parties.
- a variety of joint scientific paper have been published both, in a refereed periodicals and also in conferences etc.
- two new / improved numerical models / model approaches have been developed and implemented within the lifetime of the project
- through the SimCOAST – project a close link between national research projects was possible and implemented
In addition, good practices have been achieved:
- A detailed exchange of the different coastal protection experiences of the involved young researchers and experienced researchers has been performed on the basis of the Sanya Beach Erosion and Protection Scheme which was followed nearly over the complete project period. The complete set of methodological approaches (field studies, numerical modelling and hydraulic modelling) has been applied to this problem.
- Experiences on climate change related changed hydrodynamic impact on coasts have been shared and the application of hydrodynamic, especially wave modelling, using regionalized climate change model results was shown and discussed in detail. Here, the main focus was laid on the simulation and statistical assessment of waves.
- Training on using an unmanned solar driven autonomous boat for measurements of bathymetry, water quality, flows, etc. was offered and existing experiences with such autonomous systems have been shared.
Besides the scientific exchanges SimCOAST widely contributed to understand the different cultural background of the involved researchers from Italy, Bulgaria, China and Germany, respectively. Furthermore SimCOAST was a great opportunity for the involved young researchers to get practical experiences in working abroad and in a completely different cultural area and to experience the different scientific cultures
The project logo and brochure are attached together with a group photo in a zip-archive "Final_Publishable_Summary_Report.zip".
- Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institut für Wasserbau, Germany (Project Coordinator)
- Universita di Roma TRE (UR3), Italy
- Black Sea & Danube Coastal Association for Research and Development (BDCA), Bulgaria
- Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute (NHRI), China
- Hohai University (HHU), China.
Within the overall goal the project focuses on 6 major research topics, grouped in 6 work packages:
1. COASTAL EROSION: Development and improving existing numerical simulation models on coastal morphology. Links to coastal monitoring / field survey, and use of GIS application
2. COASTAL FLOODING: Study on coastal flooding phenomena, improving coastal flooding process understanding. Development of new, and improvement of existing numerical simulation models supporting flood risk analysis
3. CLIMATE CHANGE, EXTREME EVENTS: Study / evaluate effect of climate change (sea level rise, changes in frequency, duration and intensity of storms). Study extreme events (storm surges, tsunamis)
4. WAVE-STRUCTURE INTERACTION: Develop/improve advanced numerical simulation models. Recommend improved environmentally friendly coastal protection (artificial reefs, beach nourishment, permeable barriers, resistant vegetation)
5. GIS BASED APPROACH: Develop GIS Based approach to provide/handle digitized data for the above numerical models
6. COASTAL PROTECTION DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS: Develop decision support system on protection against flooding and erosion, based on integration of the above decision support system models for environmental risk assessment.
Main results for the SimCOAST - project can be summarized as follows:
- A partner network was established and deepened and an intensive exchange of knowledge and experience was carried out
- Exchange of early stage and experienced researchers between EU and China was carried out, 87.25 m/m visits and stay abroad in total have been reported
- New research findings have been received, and reported at the 5 research seminars
- 5 Books of proceedings with presentations at the research seminars have been printed out and disseminated among project partners and other concerned parties.
- a variety of joint scientific paper have been published both, in a refereed periodicals and also in conferences etc.
- two new / improved numerical models / model approaches have been developed and implemented within the lifetime of the project
- through the SimCOAST – project a close link between national research projects was possible and implemented
In addition, good practices have been achieved:
- A detailed exchange of the different coastal protection experiences of the involved young researchers and experienced researchers has been performed on the basis of the Sanya Beach Erosion and Protection Scheme which was followed nearly over the complete project period. The complete set of methodological approaches (field studies, numerical modelling and hydraulic modelling) has been applied to this problem.
- Experiences on climate change related changed hydrodynamic impact on coasts have been shared and the application of hydrodynamic, especially wave modelling, using regionalized climate change model results was shown and discussed in detail. Here, the main focus was laid on the simulation and statistical assessment of waves.
- Training on using an unmanned solar driven autonomous boat for measurements of bathymetry, water quality, flows, etc. was offered and existing experiences with such autonomous systems have been shared.
Besides the scientific exchanges SimCOAST widely contributed to understand the different cultural background of the involved researchers from Italy, Bulgaria, China and Germany, respectively. Furthermore SimCOAST was a great opportunity for the involved young researchers to get practical experiences in working abroad and in a completely different cultural area and to experience the different scientific cultures
The project logo and brochure are attached together with a group photo in a zip-archive "Final_Publishable_Summary_Report.zip".