Capacity building in coastal engineering with a focus to countries in transition

Abstract

Coastal engineering is a complex art. At this moment a limited number of phenomena can understood with the help of the laws of physics and fluid mechanics. For the remainder, formulas have been developed with limited accuracy. In addition, input data are also limited available, and form another source of uncertainty. Consequently, a sound engineering approach is required, based on practical experience and supported by physical and mathematical models. Standard solutions do not exist in coastal engineering; solutions depend very much on local circumstances as well as the social and political approach towards the coast. Consequently the transfer of coastal engineering knowledge is a complex art as well. Because of the different circumstances, training of engineers from countries in transition therefore has to be different from training of engineers from a country with a strong coastal engineering tradition.