The Department of Coastal Engineering and Dynamics is one of the three major research units within the Institute of Hydro-Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IBW PAN).
The Department of Coastal Engineering and Dynamics carries out research on problems connected with coastal hydrodynamics, evolution and management of the coastal zone, sediment transport and shore protection. Both theoretical and empirical methods are applied in order to solve the problems of the basic and applied characters. The following research groups have been created within the Department:
We have participated in many of the EU research projects and a few bilateral projects. Besides, we have participated in a number of international joint projects. We have presented many of our contributions during conferences and workshops all over the World. We have cooperated with various research and academic institutions in such countries as Bulgaria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Ukraine and Vietnam.
Our publications appear in the form of books, articles in professional journals and in conference proceedings. We have published our contributions in such journals as J. of Coastal Research, Coastal Eng., ASCE J. Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Eng. etc. Many of our papers have been quoted by foreign authors.
The Coastal Research Station (CRS) at Lubiatowo, located approx. 75 km NW from Gdańsk. It is equipped with both stationary and portable instruments enabling measurement of waves, currents, sediment transport, topography of beach and shore (bathymetric surveys using GPS technique) etc. The research comprises various scales of morphodynamics of the coast characterised by a multi-bar cross-shore profile. The absence of tidal motions in Lubiatowo makes the Laboratory especially useful for investigating the wind waves and long-period motions as, for example, edge waves, surf beats, etc. It is unique in Poland and one of just a few laboratories of this kind in the world, equipped with wind and wave gauges, pressure sensors, electromagnetic current meters, Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers and Laser-Doppler Particle Size Analyser.
The Department has carried out a number of research projects supported by industrial organisations. These activities were closely linked to fundamental studies conducted at the Department and aimed at solution of important engineering tasks. Here, the practical problems solved for the Maritime Offices in Gdynia, Słupsk and Szczecin have concerned the optimisation of shore protection measures, artificial beach nourishment, maintenance of waterways, modernization of harbours etc.