13 Feb 2026

Standalone Color-Based Bathymetry Over 10 Years at Duck (NC, USA) from Optical Satellite Imagery and Wave Breaking Analysis

Abstract: Coastal hazard forecasting and morphological modeling rely on having accurate and up-to-date nearshore bathymetry. Traditional methods provide high precision but are expensive, complex to deploy, and only cover limited areas, leaving many coastal regions unmapped or under surveyed. In this context, Satellite-Derived Bathymetry provides a more accessible and scalable alternative, enabling frequent and global observations of the nearshore zone. This study applies the color-based log-band ratio method to extract nearshore bathymetry at Duck, North Carolina, a highly dynamic environment with a wide range of turbidity values and wave breaking extents. The log-band ratio method is an empirical approach for estimating shallow-water depths from multispectral satellite imagery which relies on the natural attenuation of light in water column, where the ratio of two spectral bands is logarithmically related to water depth. Unlike traditional SDB approaches, this method relies only on nearshore in situ wave height data, using satellite-detected breaking positions and breaker height-to-depth ratio as depth calibration points. Additionally, an automated approach is used to select images where the green/blue band penetrates sufficiently into the water to retrieve bathymetry avoiding the subjectivity of traditional manual selection. The method is validated through alongshore median- and profile-based assessments, yielding a median RMSE of ∼60 cm. Sensitivity tests on key parameters, including the breaker height-to-depth ratio and the calibration time window, demonstrate that a constant breaker height-to-depth ratio provides reliable results and that a significant number of calibration points is necessary for accurate bathymetry retrieval. This approach retrieves instant bathymetries and allows for the extraction of bathymetry evolution over time, with 90 bathymetry maps available over the 10-year period due to the very high resolution and 2-day revisit VEN𝜇S satellite and the 10-m/5-day Sentinel-2 mission. The method is transferable to other optical satellites such as Landsat, although it should be applied with caution, enabling long-term nearshore bathymetry monitoring from the 1980s to the present.

12 Feb 2026

Numerical Study of Submergence-Induced Forces on a Maintenance Bridge

Abstract: The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center–Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory conducted a numerical study for a proposed maintenance bridge over the Trinity River in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, that will be submerged in flood conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the hydrodynamic loads on the structure. The study found that, due to a combination of peak velocities and water depth, a return period of 500 yr generates the largest drag forces, while the higher depth and discharge of the standard project flood generate larger lift forces. Two flow structures were observed with shallow submergence: The first resulted in a jet parallel to the deck with a recirculation extending from railing to railing and the second resulted in a plunging jet over the deck with smaller but stronger recirculation. These patterns resulted in significantly different loads on the structure. The study analyzed the bridge’s deck slope to the flow as a possible variable affecting the loads. Observed changes related mostly to the flow pattern predicted for different flow configurations. Finally, it was observed that an open railing provides the best possible conditions in terms of loading; therefore, minimizing the frontal area of the railing is recommended.

12 Feb 2026

The Acoustic-Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP): A Comprehensive Tool for River Hydromorphodynamics Monitoring

Abstract: This paper introduces the use of acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements as input for the Acoustic Mapping Velocimetry (AMV) method, a technique for characterizing the dynamics of riverine bedforms. The performance of this new approach, ADCP-AMV, is compared with input from a multibeam echosounder through a field study conducted on the Mississippi River (USA). A virtual ADCP tool has been created to support the ADCP-AMV measurements with optimal data density predictions. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time ADCP measurements have been used in conjunction with the AMV dune-tracking method. Subsequently, the paper discusses the coupling of ADCP-AMV measurements with ancillary data extracted from the ADCP. These ancillary data are processed using previously developed protocols to characterize hydrodynamics and the suspended sediment distribution in the water column. This paper emphasizes the capability of ADCPs to characterize open-channel river hydromorphodynamic parameters with high spatiotemporal resolution. Recommendations to accurately and efficiently acquire these multi-variable measurements and derived datasets are discussed.

10 Feb 2026

Sustainable Dredged Material Management on the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers to Achieve Multiple Benefits

Abstract: This technical report showcases the sustainable dredge material management practices by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers. Over the years, USACE Huntington District (LRH) has continually adapted their navigation operations, dredge maintenance activities, and sediment beneficial use processes in response to changing local and regional hydrodynamic conditions, the results from monitoring, and proactive stakeholder engagement. This report highlights three project sites—Bonanza Bar and R. C. Byrd Locks and Dam on the Ohio River and Winfield Locks and Dam on the Kanawha River—that exemplify sustainable dredge practices consistent with Engineering With Nature® principles. By implementing these best practices, LRH has established a more sustainable dredging program that generates economic, environmental, and social benefits beyond the mere removal of sediment from the federal navigation channel. These innovative practices have successfully achieved multiple benefits while executing USACE’s navigation mission. The data and lessons learned from these projects can be applied to other riverine projects aiming to use sediment beneficially, enhance the development of USACE sustainable dredging practices, and inspire future projects.

5 Feb 2026

GeoClimate Intelligence Platform: A Web-Based Framework for Environmental Data Analysis

Abstract: Environmental science education faces a critical barrier: programming requirements prevent students, novice researchers, and domain experts from accessing planetary-scale datasets. This study presents the GeoClimate Intelligence Platform, a web-based framework powered by Google Earth Engine (GEE) that eliminates programming barriers while maintaining research-grade analytical capabilities. The platform comprises five integrated modules: GeoData Explorer for climate dataset access, Climate Analytics implementing 20+ ETCCDI-compliant climate indices, Hydrology Analyzer for precipitation analysis and return periods, Product Selector for dataset validation, and Data Visualizer for interactive analysis. This modular design supports integrated workflows while maintaining analytical independence across specialized functions. Development was motivated by workshops where students found programming barriers insurmountable despite strong motivation. Educational validation through university coursework demonstrated effectiveness. Performance evaluation shows robust scalability from educational to research-scale applications. The platform requires only a GEE account and operates through web browsers, eliminating software installation. This accessibility transformation enables broader participation in data-driven environmental problem-solving with scientific rigor, democratizing sophisticated environmental analysis for educational and research communities.

5 Feb 2026

Upscaling Nature-Based Solutions for Reducing Risk from Natural Hazards: From Process to Practice

Abstract: Nature-based solutions (NbS) offer an innovative approach to reducing risks from natural hazards, aligning ecological processes with engineering objectives. However, successfully scaling NbS from site-specific interventions to systems-level applications remains a challenge. This paper examines an Engineering With Nature® (EWN®) case study to explore how NbS can be integrated into broader, systems-based engineering practices, demonstrating the transition from conceptual design to wide-scale, regional implementation. One such case study is Deer Island, located off the coast of Mississippi, USA, where EWN approaches stabilized shorelines and restored critical habitats. The project utilized natural sediment transport processes to rebuild marsh and dune systems, enhancing the island’s resilience to storm surges and erosion. Through careful integration of natural and engineered systems, Deer Island serves as a model for how NbS can mitigate risks at both local and regional scales, increasing the ability to recover from a natural disaster and overall ecological health. In particular, the case study highlights the benefit of designing for multiple integrated ecosystem components to deliver a diverse array of ecological functions, goods, and services. The paper further underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, highlighting the role of landscape architects in creating multifunctional designs that incorporate natural features and processes. These designs enhance ecosystem services while addressing societal needs, providing a blueprint for how when combined landscape architecture, science, and engineering can synergize in NbS projects. By synthesizing lessons from the EWN and emphasizing the need for cross-sector collaboration, this paper outlines pathways to scale NbS from localized efforts to comprehensive strategies that reduce coastal storm risk.

3 Feb 2026

Sensitivity and Impact of Atmospheric Forcings on Hurricane Wind Wave Modeling in the Gulf of Mexico Using Nested WAVEWATCH III

Abstract: Precise estimation of hurricane wind-induced waves is critical to enhance the accuracy of predicting coastal flooding events in real-time besides helping in the design of sustainable coastal/offshore structures. In this study, we aim to investigate the importance of atmospheric forcings and their impact on wind wave modeling for extreme hurricane conditions in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) basin. Hurricanes Michael (2018) and Ida (2021) were chosen to be modeled as they were among the two most severe storm events that attained category 5 and category 4 status, respectively, during landfall in the GOM basin. A multi-grid nested modeling approach was implemented in WAVEWATCH III with three different wind forcings: ECMWF’s ERA5, NOAA’s High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR: v3 and v4) and ECMWF’s Operational High-Resolution Forecast Model (ECMWF) to model both hurricanes. The results generated through model simulations of various cases were compared with the field observations obtained at NDBC stations. One of the findings suggests that the ERA5 based wind model substantially underestimates the peak winds of both the hurricanes by 50–60 %, thereby resulting in significant underestimation of the wave heights by 40 %. Although the ECMWF model could not capture the maximum winds generated by Michael and Ida, it still gave better results than the ERA5 and HRRR (v3). The updated version (v4) of HRRR performed better than both ERA5 and ECMWF wind models in predicting the peak wind speeds and wind field distribution of Hurricane Ida in all the quadrants.

30 Jan 2026

Estimating Component Probability of Failure at USACE Civil Works Facilities for Asset Management

Abstract: Infrastructure components are the building blocks of US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) facilities such as navigation locks and dams. Estimates of component probability of failure are needed to support risk-informed decisions about managing and maintaining these systems and their components. At Inland Navigation (INAV) facilities, the models and methods currently in use are based on an expert elicitation. There is a need for more objective estimates of component probability of failure derived from data using statistical models and methods. This report demonstrates these models and methods and describes what kinds of data would be needed to put them into practice. The major impediment to putting these models and methods into practice is a lack of data on the age, performance, and other characteristics of in-service components. It will take time to develop these data. In the meantime, this report describes how these statistical methods and models can be adapted for use with operational condition assessment (OCA) ratings, which USACE maintains in an existing database at the enterprise scale. Finally, this report describes an analytical approach to criticality assessment, which is a systematic process for identifying which components, if failed, would lead to significant operational disruptions.

30 Jan 2026

Linear Propagation of Tsunami and Acoustic–Gravity Waves on a Sphere: Geometrical Focusing and Defocusing

Abstract: This study investigates the propagation of tsunami and acoustic–gravity waves at oceanic scales, accounting for the Earth’s curvature within a linear, potential flow framework. While local, near-field analyses often neglect Earth’s curvature and employ Cartesian or cylindrical coordinate systems, this work utilises spherical coordinates to examine wave behaviour over large distances. The analysis reveals that wave amplitudes experience a defocusing effect as they travel from the source (e.g., the Pole) toward the equator, followed by a focusing effect as they approach the antipodal point beyond the equator. A qualitative comparison is made with the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption in the South Pacific. The study models surface-gravity (tsunami) waves propagating through a compressible water layer, as well as atmospheric acoustic–gravity waves propagating through the air. The entire analysis is carried out within the framework of linear theory.

29 Jan 2026

A Monolithically Coupled Surface Water and Groundwater Finite Element Model with Fully Implicit Time Stepping Using Adaptive Hydraulics (AdH) v5.0 (KraRE: 21428 (ken)

Abstract: Simulation of surface water and groundwater interaction is becoming increasingly important for the US Army Corps of Engineer Civil Works and Military Missions. This report details the formulation of a monolithic, coupled approach that combines the Richards equation for variably saturated groundwater flow and a diffusive wave approximation for overland flow. The model is implemented with USACE’s Adaptive Hydraulics (AdH) computational framework and is evaluated for several community benchmark problems. The results indicate that the AdH model is stable with performance similar to existing, well-established codes for surface water and groundwater interaction.