Solutions to coastal disasters 2011

The Solutions to Coastal Disasters Conference series was developed to provide formal and informal venues for the exchange of information, tools and ideas relating to coastal hazards. This successful conference series has encouraged involvement by a broad audience of coastal professionals for multi-disciplinary approaches to coastal issues.

The Coasts, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute (COPRI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is pleased to announce that the next Solutions to Coastal Disasters Conference will be held June 25-29, 2011 in Anchorage, Alaska. The conference program will follow the format developed and enhanced by Solutions to Coastal Disasters 2005 held in Charleston, South Carolina and Solutions to Coastal Disasters 2008 held in Oahu, Hawaii. Solutions to Coastal Disasters 2011 will start with short courses and an opening reception; it will include plenary and technical sessions, exhibits, posters, field trips, and social events that encourage participant interactions. The Solutions to Coastal Disasters events are held at coastal regions that can provide interesting coastal learning opportunities and attempt to find venues that make it easy for participants to meet informally throughout the programmed event.

The Solutions to Coastal Disasters series has encouraged international, multi-disciplinary participation. There is always a balance between involving more groups in the conference program and maintaining a participant size that fosters interdisciplinary discussions. Solutions to Coastal Disasters 2011 will continue its effort to seek sponsors and exhibitors who will add beneficially to the conference experience and will work with national and international coastal organizations to make more coastal professionals aware of the conference event. Please help in this effort by distributing information on the conference to friends and colleagues.

Prospective authors are cordially invited to submit an abstract to the Solutions to Coastal Disasters 2011 Organizing Committee by 5 September 2010. Conference topics will focus on the science, tools, management challenges and solutions to a range of coastal hazards including:

-  Coastal Erosion
-  Hurricanes
-  Coastal storms
-  Seismic Events and Tsunamis
-  Climate Change
-  Sea Level Change
-  Wind
-  Arctic Environment

Multidisciplinary topics and papers are encouraged. Conference subtopics are:

Physical Science:

Research and study of the forces and processes that cause or contribute to natural or anthropogenic coastal disasters.

Social Science and Integrated System Knowledge

Research which includes the study of social processes defining vulnerable communities and the effectiveness of management responses, as well as advancing knowledge of transdisciplinary or co-evolving physical and social system behaviour:

- Vulnerability, resilience and adaptive capacity
- Collaborative or social learning
- Ecosystem approaches to complex systems analysis
- Governance, including issues of justice and power

Tools:

Data and technologies available to help study or forecast coastal disasters

- Models and methods (numerical, analytical)
- Mapping techniques
- Coastal observing systems and tsunami warning systems

Management:

Policies, planning and management efforts to minimize or avert coastal disasters, including:

- Balance of economic, social, environmental & technical interests on the waterfront
- Comprehensive shoreline management programs
- Land use planning & regulation
- Evacuation procedures
- Issues specific to ports, marinas, waterways or the Northwest Passage

Solutions:

Detailed examination of engineering and multi-disciplinary approaches to hazards, hazard mitigation and the consequences of these approaches, including:

- Buildings, infrastructure, lifelines & other structures
- Case studies of completed projects
- Post-storm event site evaluations
- Rebuilding in an urban environment after a coastal disaster
- Investigations for a specific geographic region
- Examination of disaster assistance programs & success of mitigation efforts