Modelling in Offshore and Coastal Engineering

Abstract

As a branch of engineering, offshore engineering is probably one of the newest. On the other hand, coastal engineering is one of the oldest, yet each has benefited from the other. Offshore engineering has had to grow up very quickly and has relied on the expertise of coastal engineers when data and knowhow have been sadly lacking. Coastal engineering, an altogether less glamorous and one can almost say overlooked, branch of engineering, has received a welcome shot in the arm from all the exploration and production now occurring in coastal waters throughout the world. The major difference between them, besides their pedigree, is that Offshore Engineering tends to be related to the extraction of hydrocarbons from continental shelf seas and hence can be seen as a net contributor to the Gross National Product. Coastal Engineering, however, is an expense justified only by the promise of an incursion of much greater expense if the effects of waves, wind and currents on coastal structures and the coast itself are ignored. This difference is a very important one to industry and research grant awarding bodies, especially when they are spoilt for choice on how to distribute monies amongst researchers, and has lead many erstwhile coastal engineers to conduct research in the field of offshore engineering.