Coastal engineering

We assist municipalities, landowners, and dike associations with protecting and creating attractive coastlines, whether it involves climate adaptation and storm surge protection, detailed design of coastal structures, or the creation of new attractive coasts in balance with the wave and current conditions at the site. We are happy to contribute advice throughout all project phases, from preliminary met-ocean studies and coastal impact studies to the development and design of comprehensive solutions and structures. We also assist with the authority approval processes (environmental assessments and approvals) and with supervision and construction management during execution. We utilise a variety of tools such as numerical wave, current, and sediment transport models (MIKE 21 and MIKE 3), erosion models such as (X-beach and LITPACK), various depth (bathymetric) and terrain models, as well as our own developed tools to create and build a deep understanding of the project and the physical processes at play, so we can work with nature and not against it. We take great pride in involving all project stakeholders and parties, as well as in creating a common understanding of goals, criteria, technical aspects, and economic and time-critical factors. We take great pride in involving all project stakeholders and parties, as well as in creating a common understanding of goals, criteria, technical aspects, and economic and time-critical factors.

Consultancy on coastal engineering

Inspection and mapping

Coastal processes analyses, historical coastal development (analysis of maps and arial photos).

Design conditions

Establishment of design wave and water level conditions while considering the effect of sea level rise. Statistical analyses of historical measurement data and model data.

Numerical modeling

Numerical modelling of wave, current, and water level conditions. We use numerical wave and hydrodynamical models to hindcast and understand historical storms and to calculate how the coast responds during the storm.

Design and tender

Design of structures (breakwaters, rock revetments, groynes, submerged breakwaters, dikes, flood walls, etc.), beach nourishment, nature-based solutions (dune landscapes, salt marshes, etc.). Preparation of drawings, technical specifications, tender documents.

Authority approvals

Guidance on applicable rules and legislation, preparation of conceptual design reports, project descriptions, permit applications for coastal protection, input on coastal processes for environmental impact assessments (EIA), etc.

Construction work

We are not contractors and do not carry out construction work ourselves. However, we contribute with supervision, construction management, inspections, etc.

Contact us

Do you need help or have questions?

Thomas Gierlevsen

Partner WatsonC - Ports & Coasts


tg@watsonc.dk

+45 20 74 45 19

Henning Lauridsen

Partner WatsonC - Ports & Coasts


hl@watsonc.dk

+45 24 96 21 29