The International Coastal Management team had a great experience at the 38th International Conference on Coastal Engineering (ICCE 2024) in Rome. This year’s conference brought together leading minds in coastal engineering to explore sustainable solutions for the future of our shorelines. We are excited to share key insights from our poster presentation and the promising discussions we had with industry professionals.
ICCE 2024 Poster Presentation Highlights
ICM’s Sam King presented on “Working with Nature Along Open Coasts, the Past, Present and Future”, where we explored how leveraging natural processes can enhance coastal resilience. The presentation focused on:
Artificial reefs, beach nourishment, and how these nature-based solutions can be applied to high-wave energy environments.
Key lessons from our Gold Coast projects and how these are informing the design and implementation of our upcoming project in Oceanside, California.
How AI and citizen science are being integrated into project designs to improve accuracy in predictions and outcomes.
This research generated meaningful discussions, with many attendees showing interest in adopting similar approaches for their coastal resilience efforts.
Key Insights from the ICCE 2024
One of the most prominent themes throughout the conference was the increasing focus on nature-based solutions to address critical issues like coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and environmental sustainability. Among these solutions, oyster reefs stood out as a vital topic of discussion, particularly for their dual role in coastal protection and ecological restoration.
A prime example of this is our Noosa Oyster Ecosystem Restoration Project in Queensland, Australia. This groundbreaking initiative, led by our Senior Coastal Engineer, Sam King, involves the design, installation, and seeding of 30 reef patches with over 600,000 juvenile oysters. These reefs not only protect the riverbanks from erosion but also significantly enhance water quality and support marine biodiversity. The project, carried out in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Noosa Council, and other local and national bodies, is a testament to how restoring natural ecosystems can benefit urban estuarine environments while protecting heritage sites.
Our real-world experience with oyster reefs and other nature-based solutions resonated with many at the conference. We shared valuable data and insights from our projects, further validating the effectiveness of these approaches in creating resilient coastlines.
Key Trends and Insights from ICCE 2024
There was a focus on the eco-morphodynamics of coral reefs, exploring how these natural structures interact with waves and sediments.
Analysis of Nature Based Processes, including physical modelliny and implementation into numerical models to assist with design.
The complexity of sea-river interactions in microtidal systems was a key topic. Presentations emphasised the importance of integrated modelling to manage flood risks in estuarine cities, especially as climate change amplifies dynamic forces such as river flows and storm surges.
As coastal cities continue to expand and climate change impacts intensify, coastal adaptation was presented as one of the greatest challenges for engineers.
Sessions on physical and numerical modeling in coastal engineering showcased how these tools are being used to better understand wave dynamics, shoreline processes, and flood risks. These models are essential for designing effective coastal protection measures.
There was a spotlight on compound coastal flooding caused by the convergence of multiple dynamic forces like wind, waves, and storm surges. The use of fast compound flood modeling tools, such as SFINCS, was discussed as a promising approach to mitigate the impact of coastal flooding in vulnerable regions.
Technical Tour Takeaways:
Sam King attended the technical tour of Ostia Beach and Marina, and observed the implementation of Italy’s submerged and emerged breakwaters, along with sand nourishment techniques. It was a great chance to exchange insights and compare these systems with the work we've done around the globe—highlighting how tailored coastal protection methods can safeguard popular beaches worldwide.
New Collaborations:
As one of the official sponsors of the ICCE 2024, our Director Aaron Salyer and Senior Coastal Engineer Sam King were able to make valuable connections with university professionals, research labs, and government bodies across the globe who visited our booth. These discussions have opened up exciting collaborations that will advance coastal resilience efforts worldwide.
For Europe, we explored potential partnerships on nearshore nourishment projects, with promising opportunities to collaborate on future research. Conversations about Asia and North America revolved around new advancements in geospatial technology and ecological reef development, opening the door for joint applications of these innovations in upcoming projects. We also had significant discussions about coastal protection solutions in North America, with the potential for a large-scale project involving local consultants. Additionally, we explored partnerships for coastal engineering projects in West Africa and Asia.
Further discussions included:
Mangrove studies in Australia, focusing on restoring and protecting vital coastal ecosystems based on learnings from our successful project experience
Student exchange programs in Europe, aimed at fostering the next generation of coastal engineers.
Increasing the modelling forecasting and outputting of nature based solutions
These conversations opened exciting collaborations across multiple regions, positioning ICM to continue its leadership in innovative, nature-based coastal solutions.
Looking Ahead:
ICCE 2024 confirmed the growing global interest in sustainable, nature-based coastal protection. As we return from Rome, we are eager to follow up on the exciting connections we made and continue pushing the boundaries of coastal resilience through nature-based engineering solutions. If you’re interested in learning more about our work or discussing potential collaborations, please reach out to us via our contact form.