Coastal Zone Engineering and Management: Medium and Long-term solutions for Coastal Disasters in the Caribbean

Fourth LACCEI International Latin American and Caribbean Conference for Engineering and Technology (LACCET 2006) Breaking Frontiers in Engineering: Education, Research and Practice 21-23 June 2006, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Coastal Zone Engineering and Management: Medium and Long-term solutions for Coastal Disasters in the Caribbean J.C. Ibrahim, PhD Lecturer, Researcher, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, jibrahim@eng.uwi.tt R. Charles, Mphil Head, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, rcharles@eng.uwi.tt Abstract The tropical coastlines of the Caribbean Sea provide a major source of wealth that, directly or indirectly, supports the economies of the region. The recurrence of damage to coastal infrastructure by hurricanes (Lenny, 1999, Ivan, 2004) brought to the fore stark deficiencies in the Region s performance with respect to design, construction and maintenance of coastal infrastructure. Further, the region failed to recognize that the coastal zone is a national resource which requires an integrated approach to its sustainability and management. To address these issues, the University of the West Indies, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, between 2000 and 2006, developed and implemented a Coastal Zone Engineering and Management Programme in terms of short, medium and long term solutions for capacity building. This paper addresses the long term solutions and describes the training initiatives implemented at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The Graduate programme offers two degrees, Coastal Zone Processes (Diploma) and Coastal Zone Engineering and Management (M.Sc.). The programme objectives incorporates three learning groups, Sustainability (EIA and Management), Engineering theory and Analysis and Design, Construction and Maintenance. All groups focus on the historical, long term, sudden and uncharacteristic impacts of the tropical seas to natural hazards especially hurricanes and tsunamis. The courses are delivered both on-line and face-to-face in an effort to provide reliable and attractive training in as wide a sphere of influence as is possible within the Caribbean Region. Keywords Coastal Zone, Hurricanes, Programme, Coastal Engineering, Management 1. Introduction Today, half of the world s rapidly growing population is thought to live within 60km of the coast, and 13 of the world s 20 largest cities reside in coastal settings (Nicholls and Leatherman, 1995), and in the Caribbean Archipelago it is estimated that 40% of the human population resides within 2km of the coast. The coastal zone is considered a major economic resource, supporting maritime, agricultural, hospitality, residential, and commercial industries and communities. The region is prone to a significant spectrum of natural hazard phenomena and disasters, with hurricanes occupying the top frequency spot. The impact and aftermath of Hurricane Lenny (November 1999), and more recently Hurricane Ivan (September 2004) have highlighted only too clearly the vulnerability of the coastal zone in the Small Island Developing States of the wider Caribbean to wind driven natural hazards. Physical damage estimates after Hurricane

Lenny were in the range of $269 million with Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada and St Lucia being hit the most (Charles and Vermerien, 2002), and for Hurricane Ivan, it was estimated that 95% of the buildings were damaged or destroyed in Grenada and the island of Grand Cayman. The recurrence of damage to coastal infrastructure by hurricanes brought to the fore stark deficiencies in the Region s performance with respect to design, construction and maintenance of coastal infrastructure (Charles and Vermeiren, 2002). The lessons learned have identified a lack of discreet and focused regional awareness of the coastal zone as a national resource that requires an integrated approach to its sustainability and management. In particular there was insufficient technical capacity to address the design and maintenance of coastal infrastructure in the Region. It is within this context that the University of the West Indies developed and implemented a programme of professional development training and long term capacity building in Coastal Zone Engineering and Management for the Region to address the imperatives of providing reliable, and sustainable coastal infrastructure for Island States. This paper presents the UWI Coastal Zone Engineering and Management Programme in terms of the short, medium and long term solutions developed and implemented in the Caribbean by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering between 2000 and 2006. 2. Solutions to Coastal Engineering Training in the Caribbean The impact of Hurricane Lenny in 1999 prompted the development of a professional development based, and long term training component in the USAID-OAS Hurricane Lenny Recovery Project in which the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, coupled with the Engineering Institute of the University of the West Indies were contracted by the Organization of American States (OAS) to organize and deliver a training programme in the Design, Construction and Maintenance of Coastal Infrastructure (CDCM), (Charles and Vermeiren, 1992). In the first instance, a needs assessment was carried out to identify the principal gaps in the resilience of the region s coastal infrastructure and design elements to hurricane events. From the assessment the following technical deficiencies in the regional capacity were recognized: a) Boundary condition definition in terms of risk of failure and site/natural hazard conditions. b) Functional analysis and design concept generation, with regard to Environmental Impact Assessment, and Hydraulic behaviour and processes; and c) Maintenance considerations with respect to monitoring, repair and rehabilitation. In addressing these deficiencies, the Department pursued three objectives; (1) to address the problems in the short term by improving knowledge and capacity among the practicing engineers in the region; (2) provide measures that ensure the sustenance and continuous improvement of coastal engineering education and training in the region; and (3) develop web based utility for the appreciation of wind and wave behaviour in the event of hurricanes. The Department subsequently came up with the following programme: Long Term Solutions: 1. Infusion of the Undergraduate B.Sc. Degree programme at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UWI with the fundamental elements of coastal zone engineering and management across all levels in the programme ; 2. Introduction of Graduate courses and programs in Coastal Engineering and Management;

Short and Medium Term Solutions: 3. Development and delivery of five short courses in the Design Construction and Maintenance of Coastal Infrastructure in 2001 for a core of 30 technical professionals across the Caribbean Region, under the USAID-OAS CDCM Hurricane Lenny Recovery Project; 4. Establishment of a (summer) working visitor program with the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; 5. Hosting an annual regional/meeting conference in coastal zone and coastal engineering issues, where the regional network can present their experiences in the development and implementation of related solutions; 6. Participation by representatives of the regional network in International Conferences on coastal zone management and coastal engineering; and Appreciation and Preliminary Design Utility 7. Development of a user friendly interactive web site that allows the determination of wind wave and surge conditions under any category of hurricane for any level of reliability and storm return period. This is hosted at www.methaz.org/cdcm. Details addressing the short and medium term objectives are discussed in detail by Charles and Vermeiren (2002). While the long term capacity building effort is describe below. 3. Training Initiative The Department optimized its resources for delivery of learning in the subject area by focusing on the design, construction and maintenance of coastal infrastructure at the undergraduate level, and deepening and broadening of the subject at the graduate level to embrace the issues of conservation and sustainability of the coastal environment, and management. 4.1 Undergraduate Training At the undergraduate level, the B.Sc. Honours degree programmes in the Department provide learning in coastal zone engineering across the three years of study as follows: a) Year 1 Level I: Introduction to waves, tides and winds, and working in the Coastal Zone. b) Year 2 Level II: Basic wave mechanics and sediment transport, soil mechanics; and c) Year 3 Level III: Coastal Engineering, offshore geotechnics. The expected learning outcomes are as follows: 1. A basic knowledge and appreciation of the engineering significance of wind, waves, tides, surges, and their role in site appreciation and functionality; 2. The ability to make predictions based on the use of linear wave theory, statistical methods and the use of tables and graphs; 3. An understanding and appreciation of the engineering significance of coastal sediment transport and coastal processes; 4. An understanding of the natural hazards pertaining to the Caribbean Region; 5. An understanding of coastal zone modeling and model packages available; 6. An understanding of the factors that influence the selection, design, construction and maintenance of coastal and offshore structures; and 7. An understanding of the function, mechanics and impact of hard and soft engineering approaches to the design and maintenance of coastal defences.

At Level III, the course in Coastal Engineering had been introduced in 2002 as an optional course in the Year 3 of the B.Sc. Honours degree programme and has attracted the attention of many of the final year students. It builds on learning in the previous two years, and caps the student s appreciation of coastal issues in tropical climates with particular emphasis on the Caribbean islands, as well as provides an acceptable level of technical engineering capacity in dealing with the design, construction and maintenance of coastal infrastructure. 4.2 Graduate Training The goal of the Graduate programme is to produce a graduate who is capable of supporting the development of tropical coastal zone engineering and management systems for both normal and hazardous situations, and who is capable of managing the implementation and monitoring of coastal zone plans, projects and solutions. The main objectives of the programme are: to provide the graduate with advanced and specialized knowledge in the field of coastal zone engineering and management which is specifically associated with the natural and man-made coastal zone infrastructure; and to equip the graduate with the techniques that may provide reliable, integrated and specific design solutions for the assessment of coastal zone defense systems in anti-hazard design.. The Department has developed and is now delivering the Graduate Programme in Coastal Zone Engineering and Management through two degree offerings, namely: Post Graduate Diploma in Coastal Zone Processes M.Sc. In Coastal Zone Engineering and Management Both offerings are based on a common core of courses and engineering design elements, and through additional courses and project work that go deeper into the coastal infrastructure design issue, it was possible to establish the strengthening of the subject area to M.Sc. level of instruction. They provide an integrated approach to the planning and management of coastal and marine resources, that requires the cooperation and collaboration of all resource users, institutions and decision makers. The graduate would possess a stream of knowledge and skills that would support reliable decision-making on the sustenance of coastal resources and infrastructure, and systematic tropical coastal zone management initiative in terms of maintaining the long-term benefits that can be derived from them. 4.3. Programme Structure The learning groups identified as appropriate to cover the programme objectives, and their respective target and actual content in the overall programme are given in Table 1 for the PG Diploma and the M.Sc. degree, while details of the overall programme schedule of courses are given in Table 2. Table 1: Overall Programme Learning Groups Learning Group Programme Percent Composition PG Diploma M.Sc. Sustainability: EIA and Management 31 (30)* 19 (20) Engineering Theory & Analysis 31 (30) 24 (25) Design, Construction & Maintenance - 19 (20) Project Work 38 (40) 38 (35) Note: * (30 ) denotes target value; 31 denotes actual value

The primary focus of the learning groups is to address the historical, long term, sudden, and uncharacteristic impacts of the surrounding tropical seas, with consideration to the related natural hazards, especially hurricanes and tsunamis. The programme approaches an equitable balance between sustainability, engineering theory and analysis, and design (where applicable), and emphasizes the project work element that is used to address and provide solutions for the coastal issues of concern. The Postgraduate Diploma in Coastal Zone processes is made of (5) five core courses, each carrying 4 credits to be completed over two semesters amounting to 20 credits. All students are required to complete a project worth 6 credits. The total credits required to complete the programme are 26. In the M.Sc. Coastal Zone Engineering and Management, there are (7) seven core courses to be completed over two semesters, each carrying 4 credits, amounting to 28 credits. Two (2) electives must then be completed in the third semester, each carrying 4 credits and amounting to 8 credits. A project (worth 6 credits) must also be started in the third semester and completed within 6 months of the start date. The total credits required to complete the programme are 42. 4.4. Method of Delivery Accessibility, territorial coverage, and quality assurance form the pedestals of the Programme delivery required to provide reliable and attractive training in as wide a sphere of influence as is possible within the Region and the coastal zone engineering Diaspora. On this basis the Department offers a mix in its delivery and assessment methods: On line interactive tuition for courses in sustainability, and engineering theory and analysis learning groups; Face-to-face delivery of design and project courses; and Face-to-face written examinations for assessment of course performance, where applicable. Five of the eight compulsory courses in the Programme are delivered on-line through Web CT media, according to the schedule given in the Programme structure (table 2) and the remaining four courses are conducted by intensive face-to-face delivery, over a two-week period for each course. The elective courses are also delivered by face-to-face mode. Course delivery is supported not only by the relevant staff in the Faculty of Engineering, UWI, but also by expert on-line tutors and an annual visiting Professor who can bring to the course a wealth of international experience and expertise in the field of Coastal zone engineering and management. To further improve the relevance of this Programme to the wider Caribbean, the site location for the execution and assessment of project work in the course in Coastal Zone Metrics will vary from Island State to Island State in the coming years, with UWI non-campus territories receiving priority for selection. Performance in both core courses and electives are assessed by both written examinations and coursework. For courses designated E4 the coursework component accounts for 40% of the final examination mark in each course. The written end of semester examination accounts for 60% of the final mark and consists of a three-hour paper containing 5 questions, out of which the candidate is requested to answer 4. For courses designated C4 and C6, examination is based on project/coursework and accounts for 100% of the final examination mark. The project/course-works are designed to improve the student s awareness and problem solving to real-time coastal issues occurring in the Caribbean. 4.5 Web CT On Line Delivery The courses are accessed by registered students via the University of the West Indies Web site using the following address: http://courses.sta.uwi.edu/webct/public/home.pl. The student is given a user name and password to log into Web CT, and after clicking onto the desired course, the course site, as shown in figure 1 for Coastal Processes and Hazards, reveals all of the information required to proceed through each course, on a module-by-module basis.

Table 2: Overall Programme Structure in Coastal Zone Engineering and Management Course PG Diploma M.Sc. Delivery First Semester (Compulsory) Coastal Processes and Hazards (E4) On Line Coastal Zone Metrics (C4) On Line and Face-to-Face Coastal Geomorphology (E4) On Line Coastal Defense and Control Systems (E4) Face-to-Face Second Semester (Compulsory) Coastal Zone Management (E4) On Line Environmental Assessment of Coastal Zones (E4) On Line Coastal Zone Management Project (C6) Individual Design of Coastal Structures (E4) Face-to-Face Research Project (C6) Individual Third Semester (Two Options from) Dredging and Beach Engineering (E4) Face-to-Face Hurricane Engineering (E4) Face-to-Face Beach Resort Engineering (E4) Face-to-Face Coastal Zone Modeling (E4) Face-to-Face There are also additional tools within Web CT that enables the user to contact the programme lecturer and coordinator. For example, the mail toolbox enables the student to send Email enquiries direct to the lecturer and vice versa. The assignments toolbox enables the lecturer to upload files relevant to coursework or tutorials and then send direct to the student. The assignment toolbox also allows the lecturer to input a submission date for the relevant coursework or tutorial in the same way as a real-time deadline, whereby after the submission date, the student is no longer able to submit their finished coursework or tutorials through the Web CT media. A further toolbox called a discussion tool can also enable the lecturer to discuss aspects of the course with all the students at designated times, very much reacting a face to face tutorial session, on-line. There is also a control panel system that is only accessible to the lecturer/coordinator to aid in the management of the course. For example, the lecturer/coordinator is able to track student performance and progress by obtaining statistical information about the student, for example how many hours the student has spent on a particular subject or page within the course and also when the student last accessed the course. 4.6. Admission Requirements While admission requirements are not the same for each course, applicants must have a tertiary level appreciation for the sciences and or mechanics to be able to properly gain the essence of the learning offered. To be admitted into the Postgraduate Diploma Programme the student is required to have a first degree from an approved University in the Natural Sciences, Planning, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Surveying Land Information, or an accredited BTECH or HND/Associate Degree in Civil Engineering plus 5 years related postgraduate experience. To be admitted into the M.Sc. Programme, a first degree from an approved University in Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering; or a Post Graduate Diploma in Coastal Zone Processes, or in an associated Hydraulic Engineering discipline, with undergraduate competency in engineering mechanics.

Figure 1: WebCT On-line Course Site for Coastal Processes and Hazards: One of five core courses in the Graduate Programme: Coastal Zone Engineering and Management

4.7 Individual Core Course Elements 4.7.1 Coastal processes and hazards Beaches and coastal areas of the Caribbean Islands are influenced by natural processes which are exclusive to a maritime tropical environment, in that the Wet and Dry season and the impact from Hurricanes influence the processes acting on the coast significantly. With this in mind, the course not only provides relevant theory that may be applied to beaches and coastal systems World Wide but also discusses the theory in relation to the tropical impacts. The coastal processes are further discussed by using actual case studies taken from different coastal areas within the Caribbean as examples. The course is essentially split into three modules. The first module focuses on understanding the engineering significance of the wind, waves, tides, hurricanes and storm surge to the sustainability and design of coastal structures. Both short term and long term prediction techniques using linear wave theory and statistical methods are then taught through a series of tutorials and lectures, to determine extreme conditions for the design elements. In order for the student to fully appreciate the dynamic nature and shear complexity of the coastal zone, they are introduced in module two to coastal sediment dynamics where the course is designed to explain not only the processes responsible for sediment transport in the sea but also explain the fundamental differences between cohesive and non-cohesive sediments. Further, the student is introduced via a series of tutorials and lectures to the equations used in the quantification of both bed load and suspended sediment transport. Using the literature and techniques taught in modules one and two, the student then enters module three where the aim is to discuss coastal morphology and processes so that they will be able to identify the key coastal processes in any locality. The student should then be able to determine the impact that a particular coastal engineering scheme will have on the surrounding coastal environment. Hence all the above modules are required for the successful preparation and implementation of shoreline management plans. 4.7.2 Coastal geomorphology Coastal geomorphology involves the mutual co-adjustment of process and form. It provides a framework from which to generalize across space and time scales. Although there are physical principles that govern the response of sediments to forcing mechanisms such as wave energy, the complexity of non-linear interaction means that it is generally difficult to explain behaviour over time scales that are relevant to human societies. The course is split up into two modules to demonstrate these concepts from a geological setting. In module one, the student is introduced to coastal classification including coral reef and estuarine systems, where the knowledge of geomorphological concepts and landforms are introduced. A variety of techniques to assess the impact of sea level rise are then discussed in context to the different coastal environments. The module then concludes by demonstrating how human intervention is responsible for creating, modifying and destroying landscapes. Module two then discusses in more detail the geotechnical input to building structures at the coast. The module is designed to address the issues of slope stability, liquifaction and underlying foundation. 4.7.3 Coastal zone metrics The aim of the coastal zone metrics course is to provide an understanding of measurement techniques in the coastal region and the need for data records in the management of the coastal zone. Material is delivered on line with the student undertaking one lecture each week. At the end of the lectures, a oneweek residential field exercise in the application of the study material will be undertaken within a specific study area. The overall objectives of the course are (i) to review instrumentation that is available and its application, (ii) to provide the students with skills in the use of the instruments and measurement within the coastal environment, (iii) to enable students to consider the value and need for particular observations in management and planning within the coastal zone and (iv) to provide the necessary tools for efficient processing and management of field data.

4.7.4 Coastal defense and control systems and design of coastal structures One of the main objectives of the UWI s M.Sc. programme, in Coastal Zone Engineering and Management, is to provide advanced training in the design of coastal defense and control systems. This objective is implemented, with specific reference to the wave climate and current patterns in the Caribbean, by two semester-long four credit face to face courses. These are Design of Coastal Structures and its pre-requisite Coastal Defense and Control Systems. Initially, the course on coastal defense and control systems presents an essentially qualitative description of beach nourishment, breakwaters, coastal revetments, groynes and sea walls. Here, in addition to the hydraulic and structural aspects, socio-economic and environmental considerations of coastal defense and control systems are examined in considerable detail. Subsequently, the course on design of coastal structures exposes the students to the intricacies of wave structure interaction. Here, fluid and structural dynamic approaches are presented for a robust design of coastal defense and control systems as well as of jetties and undersea pipelines. An important feature of this course is the design exercises where students carry out detail design of different coastal structures, and subsequently present the same at seminars for a critical appraisal. 4.7.5 Environmental impact assessment of coastal zones Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) first emerged as a formal process in the USA in 1969, as a result of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This act made it compulsory to consider possible environmental impacts before allowing a proposed activity to proceed. EIA systems will differ in different jurisdictions and will differ in detail and method of adoption because will be influenced by its own local legislature and cultural systems. However a common framework has emerged and most systems contain some or all of a set of basic steps. The objective of the course is to discuss EIA in context to the Caribbean Islands and the problems inherent to the Caribbean tropical ecosystem. A number of Caribbean case studies are discussed, and the course is further supported by additional lectures pertaining to watershed management, pollution ecology and coastal contamination. 4.7.6 Coastal zone management Coastal zone management encompasses the concepts of integrated resource management and sustainable development. Integrated coastal management requires balancing a wide range of ecological, social, cultural, governance and economic considerations. The course is essentially split up into two modules. The first module concentrates on managing the coast from a land manager perspective with special attention on the pressures and conflicts that arise from development demands in coastal zones of small island states and their limited land masses. Attention also focuses on the different management approaches used to resolve coastal resource degradation that results from poor development and natural hazards. The second module then describes in more detail the two main design options used in coastal zone management and attention is made to the challenges and opportunities that are associated with each design option. 4.7.7 Coastal zone management project This project-based course provides the student with the opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills learned throughout the programme. The student may either choose a project from a series of topics that are introduced by the key lecturers, or as an alternative, the student may opt to pursue an internship project within the mainstream of their area of specialization, and may involve the use of external resources through working visits to research organizations and Universities.

4.8 Research Development Integrated coastal zone engineering and management not only requires an educational programme to address the medium and long term requirements outlined above but also an effective research programme that has individual projects investigating and providing new initiatives in combating the coastal problems of the Caribbean. For example, we have an M.Phil graduate who is currently developing a GIS based shoreline management system for Trinidad that may be used to analyze the coastline with respect to the sediment budget, and highlight the vulnerable areas or Hotspots for coastal erosion. Essentially the system will provide a framework by which decision makers will be able to make information based decisions with respect to best management practices or solutions for shoreline management. A comprehensive update data base system is seriously lacking for Trinidad and Tobago. One of our aims for the model is to address this deficiency by providing a system which will be able to manage and make readily accessible large sets of data collected in the field. Climate change, and its likely effect on the Caribbean in terms of sea-level rise and an increase in intensity of tropical storms, will notably increase the level of risk to coastal infrastructure, coastal erosion and the economic activities it supports. To address these issues, we have a Ph.D. Graduate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering who has developed a numerical model that can predict shoreline change with respect to sea level rise and increased storm activity. Notably, the model can be applied to any of the Caribbean Islands, providing there is sufficient field data to run the model. The Department intends to set up a coastal research unit that will attract the funding of international bodies and provide new research initiatives to be studied at M.Phil. and Ph.D level. 5. Summary A Graduate Programme in Coastal Zone Engineering and Management has been developed by the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of the University of the West Indies to address the medium and long term requirements for the sustainability and continuous provision of coastal zone and coastal engineering problems in the Caribbean. Five of the eight core subjects are taught through an online interface using WebCT that enables the graduate to access and complete the course whilst still working. Additional information and advise may also be obtained through an online tutor system that incorporates the assistance of working professionals practicing in the region and internationally. In addition to the Graduate Programme, new research topics are being developed for the graduation to M.Phil and Ph.D. status. The new research initiatives will provide the foresight required for the future development and sustainability of the Caribbean Coastal zones that are currently threatened by both human intervention and natural disasters. References Charles, R., and Vermeiren, J. (2002). Towards a solution for coastal disasters in the Caribbean, Proceedings of the ASCE International Conference on Solutions to Coastal Disasters, American Society of Civil Engineers, San Diego, USA, pp.62-68. Nicholls, R.J., and Leatherman, S.P. (1995). Sea-level rise and coastal management, Geomorphology and Land Management in a Changing Environment, Editors: D.F.M. McGregor and D.A. Thompson, John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Authorization and Disclaimer Authors authorize LACCEI to publish papers in the conference proceedings. Neither LACCEI nor the editors are responsible either for the content or for the implications of what is expressed in the paper.