Conceptual Engineering Design: Self-Protecting Coastal Highway with Deployable Wave Barriers By: Dr. Hossein Ataei FarOverviewThis concept prese...
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Conceptual Engineering Design: Self-Protecting Coastal Highway with Deployable Wave Barriers
By: Dr. Hossein Ataei Far
Overview
This concept presents a resilient coastal highway equipped with deployable wave and flood barriers that automatically or manually rise during storm surges, extreme wave events, high tides, or elevated sea levels.
Under normal conditions, the barriers remain lowered or recessed to preserve coastal views, traffic flow, and accessibility. When hazardous coastal conditions are detected, hydraulic actuators deploy the barriers to create a temporary seawall that helps reduce wave overtopping, coastal flooding, erosion, and damage to the roadway [1,5].
Although no existing highway incorporates this exact configuration, the concept integrates proven technologies already used in coastal engineering, including movable storm surge barriers, hydraulic flood walls, and buoyancy-assisted flood protection systems [2–5].
1. Cross-Section Configuration
The seaward side incorporates a rock-armored revetment (riprap) that dissipates incoming wave energy before it reaches the structural barrier [1].
Behind the revetment, reinforced concrete, steel, or advanced composite barrier panels are installed along the highway shoulder. When activated, these hinged panels rotate upward to form a protective wall, typically ranging from 3–6 m in height, depending on local hydraulic conditions and design criteria [1].
Hydraulic cylinders—or buoyancy-assisted mechanisms—provide controlled deployment [2,3].
The roadway may consist of an elevated embankment or pile-supported structure with integrated drainage channels and scuppers designed to safely manage rainfall and limited overtopping [1].
Barrier dimensions, foundations, and anchorage systems would be determined through detailed hydraulic, structural, and geotechnical analyses to resist overturning, uplift, scour, and extreme wave loading [1].
2. Plan Layout
Modular barrier sections are installed along the seaward edge with engineered seals, sensors, and integrated nature-based protection measures where appropriate [5].
3. Barrier Deployment System
Hydraulic cylinders provide controlled deployment, supported by redundant actuators, backup power, corrosion-resistant materials, manual override capability, and modular replacement features [2,3].
4. Intelligent Control System
A PLC/SCADA-based platform integrates tide gauges, wave buoys, radar, weather stations, water-level sensors, and structural health monitoring for automated or manual deployment [1].
Advantages
• Reduces wave overtopping, flooding, and erosion [1,5].
• Preserves coastal views and highway operations.
• Supports climate adaptation.
• Integrates with nature-based coastal protection.
• Reduces lifecycle maintenance costs.
Engineering Considerations
Implementation requires hydraulic and wave modeling, FEA, geotechnical investigations, scour assessment, environmental impact assessment, lifecycle cost analysis, and long-term maintenance planning.
Engineering Design Philosophy
Adopt a risk-informed, performance-based engineering approach integrating hydraulic modeling, FEA, geotechnical analysis, climate projections, resilience assessment, lifecycle cost analysis, and asset management.
Applicable Engineering Guidance
Any future implementation of this conceptual design should comply with internationally recognized engineering standards, codes, and best practices for coastal infrastructure, structural resilience, hydraulic engineering, and climate adaptation, including:
FHWA Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 25 (HEC-25): Highways in the Coastal Environment (Third Edition)—planning guidance, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining highways in coastal environments, including wave action, storm surge, erosion, scour, and sea-level rise considerations [1].
AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications—requirements for the structural design of highway bridges and transportation infrastructure subjected to hydraulic, environmental, and extreme loading conditions [6].
ASCE/SEI 7-22 – Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures—minimum design criteria for wind, flood, tsunami (where applicable), and other environmental loads relevant to coastal infrastructure [7].
ASCE/COPRI 61-14 – Flood Resistant Design and Construction—guidance for designing flood-resilient infrastructure, including floodproofing strategies, performance objectives, and resilience-based design principles [8].
ASCE Manual of Practice (MOP) No. 130 – Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Adaptive Design and Risk Management—frameworks for incorporating climate change adaptation, sea-level rise projections, risk assessment, and lifecycle resilience into infrastructure planning and engineering design [9].
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM), EM 1110-2-1100—the internationally recognized reference for coastal hydrodynamics, wave mechanics, sediment transport, shoreline protection, and the design of coastal structures [10].
References
[1] Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Highways in the Coastal Environment: Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 25 (HEC-25), Third Edition. 2021.
[2] Takagi, H., et al. Self-Powered Movable Seawall for Tsunami Protection. Tokyo Institute of Technology / ScienceDaily, 2024.
[3] Sun, X., et al. Experimental Investigation on the Hydraulic Characteristics of Self-Rotating Flood Barrier. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 2025.
[4] Consorzio Venezia Nuova. MOSE Project (Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico), Venice Lagoon Flood Protection System.
[5] Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Highway Resilience Implementation Guide.
[6] American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, latest edition.
[7] American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). ASCE/SEI 7-22: Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures. Reston, VA, USA, 2022.
[8] American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). ASCE/COPRI 61-14: Flood Resistant Design and Construction. Reston, VA, USA.
[9] American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Manual of Practice No. 130: Climate-Resilient Infrastructure—Adaptive Design and Risk Management. ASCE Press.
[10] U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM), Engineer Manual EM 1110-2-1100. Developed in cooperation with ASCE/COPRI.
By: Dr. Hossein Ataei Far
Overview
This concept presents a resilient coastal highway equipped with deployable wave and flood barriers that automatically or manually rise during storm surges, extreme wave events, high tides, or elevated sea levels.
Under normal conditions, the barriers remain lowered or recessed to preserve coastal views, traffic flow, and accessibility. When hazardous coastal conditions are detected, hydraulic actuators deploy the barriers to create a temporary seawall that helps reduce wave overtopping, coastal flooding, erosion, and damage to the roadway [1,5].
Although no existing highway incorporates this exact configuration, the concept integrates proven technologies already used in coastal engineering, including movable storm surge barriers, hydraulic flood walls, and buoyancy-assisted flood protection systems [2–5].
1. Cross-Section Configuration
The seaward side incorporates a rock-armored revetment (riprap) that dissipates incoming wave energy before it reaches the structural barrier [1].
Behind the revetment, reinforced concrete, steel, or advanced composite barrier panels are installed along the highway shoulder. When activated, these hinged panels rotate upward to form a protective wall, typically ranging from 3–6 m in height, depending on local hydraulic conditions and design criteria [1].
Hydraulic cylinders—or buoyancy-assisted mechanisms—provide controlled deployment [2,3].
The roadway may consist of an elevated embankment or pile-supported structure with integrated drainage channels and scuppers designed to safely manage rainfall and limited overtopping [1].
Barrier dimensions, foundations, and anchorage systems would be determined through detailed hydraulic, structural, and geotechnical analyses to resist overturning, uplift, scour, and extreme wave loading [1].
2. Plan Layout
Modular barrier sections are installed along the seaward edge with engineered seals, sensors, and integrated nature-based protection measures where appropriate [5].
3. Barrier Deployment System
Hydraulic cylinders provide controlled deployment, supported by redundant actuators, backup power, corrosion-resistant materials, manual override capability, and modular replacement features [2,3].
4. Intelligent Control System
A PLC/SCADA-based platform integrates tide gauges, wave buoys, radar, weather stations, water-level sensors, and structural health monitoring for automated or manual deployment [1].
Advantages
• Reduces wave overtopping, flooding, and erosion [1,5].
• Preserves coastal views and highway operations.
• Supports climate adaptation.
• Integrates with nature-based coastal protection.
• Reduces lifecycle maintenance costs.
Engineering Considerations
Implementation requires hydraulic and wave modeling, FEA, geotechnical investigations, scour assessment, environmental impact assessment, lifecycle cost analysis, and long-term maintenance planning.
Engineering Design Philosophy
Adopt a risk-informed, performance-based engineering approach integrating hydraulic modeling, FEA, geotechnical analysis, climate projections, resilience assessment, lifecycle cost analysis, and asset management.
Applicable Engineering Guidance
Any future implementation of this conceptual design should comply with internationally recognized engineering standards, codes, and best practices for coastal infrastructure, structural resilience, hydraulic engineering, and climate adaptation, including:
FHWA Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 25 (HEC-25): Highways in the Coastal Environment (Third Edition)—planning guidance, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining highways in coastal environments, including wave action, storm surge, erosion, scour, and sea-level rise considerations [1].
AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications—requirements for the structural design of highway bridges and transportation infrastructure subjected to hydraulic, environmental, and extreme loading conditions [6].
ASCE/SEI 7-22 – Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures—minimum design criteria for wind, flood, tsunami (where applicable), and other environmental loads relevant to coastal infrastructure [7].
ASCE/COPRI 61-14 – Flood Resistant Design and Construction—guidance for designing flood-resilient infrastructure, including floodproofing strategies, performance objectives, and resilience-based design principles [8].
ASCE Manual of Practice (MOP) No. 130 – Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Adaptive Design and Risk Management—frameworks for incorporating climate change adaptation, sea-level rise projections, risk assessment, and lifecycle resilience into infrastructure planning and engineering design [9].
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM), EM 1110-2-1100—the internationally recognized reference for coastal hydrodynamics, wave mechanics, sediment transport, shoreline protection, and the design of coastal structures [10].
References
[1] Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Highways in the Coastal Environment: Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 25 (HEC-25), Third Edition. 2021.
[2] Takagi, H., et al. Self-Powered Movable Seawall for Tsunami Protection. Tokyo Institute of Technology / ScienceDaily, 2024.
[3] Sun, X., et al. Experimental Investigation on the Hydraulic Characteristics of Self-Rotating Flood Barrier. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 2025.
[4] Consorzio Venezia Nuova. MOSE Project (Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico), Venice Lagoon Flood Protection System.
[5] Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Highway Resilience Implementation Guide.
[6] American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, latest edition.
[7] American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). ASCE/SEI 7-22: Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures. Reston, VA, USA, 2022.
[8] American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). ASCE/COPRI 61-14: Flood Resistant Design and Construction. Reston, VA, USA.
[9] American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Manual of Practice No. 130: Climate-Resilient Infrastructure—Adaptive Design and Risk Management. ASCE Press.
[10] U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM), Engineer Manual EM 1110-2-1100. Developed in cooperation with ASCE/COPRI.