Physical modelling in coastal engineering

Coastal engineering is a field which has grown in importance over the last forty years as mankind has utilised and become dependent on the coastlines of the world to a greater extent.  The activities in the field include the study of wave dynamics, shoreline erosion and protection, harbor and breakwater design, dredging technology, estuary mechanics and storm surge calculations, as well as offshore structural design.  In all of these areas the level of actvity is high and the state of art has imporved dramatically since the 1940's.  An important aspect of all these areas of research is the use of model studies. This volume consists of a number of papers which cover various aspects of physical modelling in coastal engineering, including the generation of waves in the laboratory, the modelling of sediment transport and the application to various engineering problems.  The intent is to provide the reader with an overview of the research actvities of indviduals who represent major laboratories in their countries: to include Denmark, Scotland, Canada, the People's Republic of China, England, the Netherlands and the U.S.