CCPO and ICAR
Spring 2026 Virtual Seminar Series
MONDAY, 9 March 2026
3:30 p.m.
The CCPO and Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (ICAR) seminar will be given Professor Hyun Dong Kim from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Old Dominion University (flyer attached). Professor Kim’s research combines engineering and data-based methods to address coastal resilience issues. His seminar will show how sediment transport patterns can be evaluated using artificial intelligence combined with hydraulics to inform mitigation strategies.
Dr. Eileen Hofmann will host Professor Kim’s virtual seminar. There will be an informal discussion with Professor Kim prior to the seminar starting at 3pm.
Please join via the seminar Zoom link above to talk with Professor Kim and attend the seminar.
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Title: AI-Assisted Interpretation of Sediment Transport in Vulnerable Coasts
Abstract
Low-lying island nations are experiencing accelerated shoreline change due to sea-level rise and increasing storm intensity. Traditional coastal engineering approaches rely on process-based numerical models; however, these methods often struggle in data-limited environments where sediment processes are highly nonlinear and spatially variable. As a result, predicting long-term shoreline response and selecting appropriate adaptation strategies remain challenging.
In this seminar, I present a data-driven framework that combines hydraulic understanding with artificial intelligence to interpret sediment transport and coastal evolution in Tuvalu, a Pacific island nation vulnerable to erosion and inundation. Using field observations, historical shoreline information, and experimental knowledge, the approach identifies dominant drivers of morphological change and evaluates the performance of different mitigation strategies, including gravel nourishment and nature-based solutions.
Through this case study, I demonstrate how data-driven analysis can complement traditional coastal models by revealing patterns not easily captured by physics-based simulations alone. The results suggest that integrating engineering knowledge with machine learning can improve prediction reliability and support decision-making for coastal resilience.
I conclude with a discussion on how hybrid approaches combining physics and AI may guide future coastal management, particularly in regions where monitoring data are sparse but adaptation planning is urgent.
Biography
Dr. Hyun Dong Kim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Old Dominion University. He earned his first Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with a focus on AI applications from Osaka University, Japan, followed by a Ph.D. in Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering from the University of Florida. Prior to academia, he worked in the engineering consulting industry and in professional engineering organizations. He currently serves on the Executive Board of PIANC (The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure) and on the Coastal Council of ASCE COPRI. His research focuses on nearshore hydrodynamics, nature-based solutions, and maritime engineering, with recent efforts integrating artificial intelligence to improve prediction of coastal change in data-limited environments. He was selected as one of Forbes Korea’s 20 AI Rising Leaders for his work on AI applications in engineering.
Previous seminars are available on CCPO/ICAR Seminar YouTube Playlist