Coastal Structures

Protecting coastlines against erosion remains an important objective to civil engineering works. Those seeking to deter erosion or repair the damage it has caused may choose from a number of options, including beach nourishment or a hard structure such as a jetty or revetment. In many cases, the preferred option must not only deter erosion but also remedy a problem caused elsewhere, as when sediments lost from the coast find their way into navigation channels. Typically, beach nourishment fails to address navigation issues, which often dictate the use of hard structures to maintain or improve navigation safety and decrease dredging frequency.

Taylor Engineering has extensive experience in the evaluation, design, and permitting of coastal and shoreline protection structures including

• Groins
• Revetments
• Breakwaters
• Jetties
• Piers
• Bio-engineered slope stabilization
• Environmental enhancement

Through state-of-the-art numerical models, desktop assessment techniques, and public and agency coordination, Taylor Engineering addresses many of today’s coastal structure design concerns such as

• Physical attributes
  • Wind
  • Waves
  • Water levels
  • Currents
  • Wave runup and overtopping
  • Material type
• Structural stability
• Aesthetics
• Adverse effects
  • Sedimentation
  • Erosion
  • Flooding
  • Water quality

In coastal structure design, we evaluate many coastal engineering design parameters such as winds, surge elevation, currents, and wave conditions (height and frequency). The magnitudes of these parameters vary significantly depending on the frequency of occurrence or severity of the event chosen for the basis of design. Careful consideration of the interaction of these parameters and applicable coastal engineering design criteria leads to cost-effective and efficient projects.