Coastal Engineering | Coastal Protection Engineering

Sea level rise will double coastal flood risk worldwide. At WSP, we provide design services combined with environmental analysis and assessment for port and coastal projects to ensure that shores are protected and resilient.

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Putting Our Experience to Work for You

At WSP, we provide design services combined with environmental analysis and assessment for a variety of port and coastal projects. We are involved with the design and rehabilitation of beaches and coastal structures, such as wharves, jetties, piers, breakwaters, groins, shoreline armoring, and access channels. Our projects are designed to work in harmony with their surroundings and to minimise the potential impact on environmental resources.

Our team has globally recognised expertise in coastal processes and engineering, ranging from the modelling and analysis of coastal processes and the effect of human intervention on these processes, to the detailed design of coastal structures and beach restoration projects. We use state-of- the-art scientific instrumentation to measure bathymetry, currents, waves, water-levels, and sediment transport. These measurements are employed in the validation of specialised software used to numerically model processes such as waves, currents, and sediment transport, as well as the evolution of beach and seabed morphology. Accurate characterisation of marine environmental conditions and processes with such tools is key to the successful design of coastal infrastructure.

Using collected and simulated weather, current, and wave information, we carry out assessments of downtime to offshore, coastal, and inshore installations and facilities, including docks and wind turbines, in order to maximise the available working time at a facility, improve productivity and reduce risk.

Breakwaters and Wave Agitation

At WSP, we have the expertise to design sturdy and durable breakwaters and to optimise their configuration to minimise wave agitation in harbours. We use advanced numerical tools to develop applications that help us simulate the particular features of each site and structure. We also study local weather storms in detail in order to design breakwaters and berth areas according to environmental conditions. Our concepts are adapted to include regionally available materials to minimise construction costs. We also have the required expertise for on-site monitoring and the inspection of aging structures.

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Wisconsin Point Living Shoreline

Flood and Shore Protection

Our coastal engineering consultants and geomorphologists work together to assess coastal erosion and submersion risks. Using available data, land and marine surveys, state-of- the-art modelling tools, aerial pictures, historical site information, environmental habitats, and social use characterization, we are able to harness a thorough understanding of the coastal processes at play and the associated coastal risks. Our team can forecast long-term scenarios to assess the potential risks and benefits stemming from different shoreline management strategies. Through the quantification of these risks and benefits, we can help decision-makers find the best options for their assets.

We employ the “Living Shoreline” approach when developing our projects. Consequently, we promote open channels of communication with local environmental and social specialists when developing our concepts, in order to maximize community support and ecosystem integration.

More information on stormwater and flood risk management

Breakwaters and Wave Agitation

At WSP, we have the expertise to design sturdy and durable breakwaters and to optimize their configuration to minimize wave agitation in harbours. We use advanced numerical tools to develop applications that help us simulate the particular features of each site and structure. We also characterize local weather storms (including tropical cyclones) in detail in order to design breakwaters and berth areas according to environmental conditions. Our concepts are adapted to include regionally available materials to minimize construction costs. We also have the required expertise for on-site monitoring and the inspection of aging structures.

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Living Breakwaters - Credit: The Scape Team Living Breakwaters HUD Rebuild By Design

Coastal Engineering Waterfront Development

Palm Jumeirah Waterfront Development

Waterfront Developments

We are dedicated to creating safe and enjoyable connections between land and water. We design seawalls, littoral paths, and urban beaches to provide the public with waterfront access. We work with architects and urban planners to develop and revitalize cities by integrating new developments that respect the marine environment. We mitigate erosion and submersion for the long-term, notably by developing resilient concepts that can be adapted to projected climate changes embracing new planning approaches such as the Dynamic Adaptive Pathways. We can provide you with the services and specialists required to ensure the success of your project.

Computational Modelling

We believe that a crucial component in the successful design and operation of port and coastal environments is the characterisation of the marine environment’s effect on structures and operations. We produce simulations of coastal environments in order to understand the coastal processes specific to a project, or to test the effect of any change in the physical environment on its natural features or on any built assets.

Our modelling capabilities allow us to generate offshore wave climates that simulate the real environment to propagate and transform them to the nearshore study site. Once near the site, we can study wave penetration and agitation, wave loading on structures, and all other hydrodynamic parameters involved in the design of robust maritime structures.

We can also identify the rates of overtopping on structures of all types due to waves, inform the design of wave defense structures such as breakwaters, and allow for the assessment of overland flooding from coastal sources. This detailed understanding allows us to advise clients in relation to beach morphology, dredging assessments, impacts of new development, climate change mitigation, management, and planning.

We also develop bespoke numerical modelling tools to compile data and produce graphs, tables and maps that help the client to make an informed decision:

Bathymetry
Topography
Hydrology
MetOcean
Sediment Dynamics and Current Measurements

Discover our coastal engineering projects

Netherlands

Reinforcement of the Grebbedijk

Flood control is an important issue in the Netherlands, as climate change leads to rising sea water levels and increasing discharge peaks of the Rhine River.

Lemvig, Jutland, Denmark

Climatorium

The new climatorium in Lemvig functions as a knowledge, research and learning centre for coastal challenges, and incorporates inspiration from the surrounding landscape in its design.

Apalachicola Bay, Florida, USA

Franklin-98 Living Shorelines

Using nature-based solutions and habitat restoration to build coastal resilience and protects critical infrastructure.

Australia

Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant

Preparing for a growing South Australia

Tauranga, New Zealand

Living seawall rebuilds marine ecosystem

In 2024, Tauranga residents may have noticed some futuristic-looking concrete pods nestled in a new seawall at the northern end of the city's strand waterfront reserve. Installed by WSP coastal engineering experts, the pods are providing a home for intertidal flora and fauna while helping shore up the CBD’s sea defences.

Brisbane, Australia

Overcoming challenging soil conditions to safely deliver a new Brisbane international cruise terminal

The construction of the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal. Located at the mouth of the Brisbane River, the project is being delivered by Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL).

Staten Island, New York, USA

Living Breakwaters Coastal Resilience

An innovative living infrastructure solution, incorporating a necklace of offshore breakwaters, aims to reduce coastal erosion, revive ecologies, and connect the community to the Staten Island shoreline.

New York, USA

Sleepy Hollow East Parcel Climate Resilient Redevelopment Plan

This urban renewal project aims to transform a flood-prone former industrial site into a multi-purpose space using resiliency strategies to adapt to a changing climate.

Hawaii, USA

Hawaii Highways Climate Adaption Action Plan

The Action Plan identifies the island state’s transportation infrastructure most at risk from climate-related impacts and helps guide future investment decision making to build resilience.

Cape May, New Jersey, USA

Higbee Beach Tidal Wetland Restoration

The restoration of several hundred acres of marsh into a greenway provides habitat for migratory species, and supports maritime and early successional forest, as well as a public access network.