8.1. INTRODUCTION

Coastal protection systems are engineering works designed to prevent or minimize the damages to near-shore areas stemming from, wave attack, erosion, and coastal flooding. Ideally, there would be little need for shore protection. A good understanding of longterm behavior would, along with prudent planning, minimize the risk of damages to infrastructure in coastal areas. For example, coastal engineering knowledge could be used to avoid siting of infrastructure in: (1) low-lying areas such as barrier islands, or (2) in areas characterized by high rates of long-term erosion. Shore protection is necessary in the real world where decisions have been made without or despite the benefit of the coastal engineering knowledge and with a view towards maximizing the economic value of nearshore property.

Much of the infrastructure built along the coast in developed countries predates the field of coastal engineering. In the absence of expertise, many near-shore communities developed during the 19th and through the mid 20th centuries were located in areas vulnerable to coastal flooding. Notwithstanding the rise of coastal engineering knowledge, one can find many modern examples of shore developments that needed shore protection soon after they were constructed. This stems from the real estate values along the coast. The pressure to develop these valuable areas is unending and has led to the...