Long-term shoreline evolution modelling

Model long-term shoreline evolution in areas with complex bathymetries using this powerful intra-wave sediment transport module.

Why MIKE 21 Shoreline Morphology?

Model all areas of non-cohesive sediment dynamics

Create flexible and robust shoreline models capable of handling shorelines with large curvature, off-shore reefs, breakwaters, seawalls, groynes and rocky outcrops by combining 1D shoreline morphology with the 2D wave, current and sediment transport field from MIKE 21/3 Sand Transport (ST). Conduct the most advanced studies of real-life engineering problems such as the morphological optimisation of port layouts, impact of shore protection schemes, stability of tidal inlets, sedimentation in dredged channels and port entrances, erosion over buried pipelines, as well as river and estuarine morphology with this unparalleled duo.

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Watch how you can forecast port sedimentation over a multi-year period
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Take a look at this simulation of morphological evolution while nourishing beaches

Add beach nourishment or channel dredging to your simulations

By coupling MIKE 21 Shoreline Morphology with MIKE 21 Sand Transport FM, you can specify bed level sources/sinks to model the dynamic effects of beach nourishment. The bed level sources/sinks are fully integrated with the shoreline model. This capability also makes it possible to model the effects of maintaining a certain depth (for example, of a navigation channel) and the amount of dredging necessary. Additionally, the dredged sediment can automatically be disposed at specific locations to represent artificial bypass operations.

Model the effects from coastal structures on shoreline evolution

MIKE 21 Shoreline Morphology lets you model important effects from structures on coastal morphology. These processes include wave sheltering, reflection and diffraction, as well as large-scale flow circulation and gradual downdrift recovery of the littoral drift. Since the morphological model is tightly coupled to underlying wave, flow and sediment transport models within MIKE 21, the effects can be inherently represented in complex 2D settings.

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Watch how you can combine 1D and 2D morphology to model effects from coastal structures

MIKE 21 Shoreline Morphology is a go-to resource for shoreline studies

Coastal Engineering

Study shoreline protection schemes including artificial reefs and protective structures. Promote the stability of tidal inlets. Analyse the interaction between dune erosion and shoreline changes.

Port Planning & Design

Optimise port layouts. Mitigate downdrift erosion and updrift sedimentation in dredged channels and port entrances by testing bypass operation schemes.

Offshore Energy

Analyse the effects of erosion over buried pipelines.

Rivers & Estuaries

Link sediment supply from rivers to the shoreline response. Analyse tidal dynamics and the interaction with the coastline.

No in-house modellers?

Get our expert modellers on board for your consulting projects either as a partner, to provide extended user support or for model and project reviews. Submit an inquiry

Featured software subscription package

Coastal Engineering

This affordable subscription package features some of our best industry-recognised applications to support your coastal engineering studies including MIKE 21 Shoreline Morphology, MIKE 21/3 Sand Transport, LITPACK, and more!

Additional capabilities & unique features

Save time and improve your modelling workflows using MIKE Zero’s upgraded editors and viewers. Take advantage of new keyboard shortcuts and themes, improved tabbing, tear off and cascade functionality plus easier access to User Guides and Scientific Documentation.

MIKE Zero, DHI’s fully Windows integrated graphical user interface, is now better than ever and comes standard with all MIKE 21/3 software. Enjoy easy access to new MIKE Cloud applications and Cloud-enhanced functionality, plus an extended set of MIKE tools within theme-based (rather than product-based) interactive workflows. Ensure important model components such as sources and structures stay at the forefront with a new interactive, customisable floating mapping window. Lastly, the updated tabbing functionality will help you work in a more organised and efficient manner.

This pioneering intra-wave sand transport model calculates sand transport due to the combined effect of waves and currents by using the integrated wave boundary layer approach. This means that the bed shear stress (responsible for entraining sediment) and the intra-wave orbital motion (responsible for moving entrained sediment) can be determined for any combination of currents and waves. Add to this a coupling to a vertical diffusion and advection formulation of sediment concentration taking sediment characteristics into account, you have a model that can also be applied to any type of non-cohesive sediment.

Make long-term prediction of shoreline evolution ranging from days to centuries in cases where 2D effects are important, such as areas with complex bathymetries. With MIKE 21 Shoreline Morphology, the sediment volume deposited during each time step is integrated across the shore face. The morphology is then updated according to the continuity equation for the shoreline using a predefined coastal profile. This unique process eliminates the effect of the cross-shore transport on the morphology, enabling long-term simulations.

The Dune Erosion model can be used to calculate the erosion of the dunes during storm conditions. Model the effects from dune erosion on shoreline evolution, even if the shoreline has not eroded all the way back. The Dune Erosion model is coupled to the shoreline evolution i.e. sand eroded from the dune will supply the beach and thereby reduce exposure of the dune to erosion.

Sediment availability on the seabed can be introduced through initial maps of sand layer thickness, which is updated in response to morphological changes. Sand layer thickness maps are used for detailed sediment bypass over underwater structures, sloping seawalls, reefs and other hard bottom features. The sand layer thickness is part of the standard MIKE 21 ST FM but can also be applied within areas controlled by the Shoreline model.

The implementation of the restrictions to morphology imposed by the shoreline model allows flexibility to specify areas where shoreline morphology is required and other areas where the full 2D morphology is required. Thus for some areas where the assumption on straight and parallel depth contours cannot be justified, the normal 2D model can be used within the same model setup. This feature has proven to increase the applicability of the shoreline model to virtually any long-term morphological study involving coastal structures. Typical examples where the 2D feature will be enabled is locally around the tip of relatively short groynes where the bathymetry is known to be both dynamic and spatially highly variable.

Use MIKE 21 Shoreline Morphology on systems with multiple cores and GPUs thanks to the efficient parallelisation techniques that are implemented in MIKE 21. Benefit from enhanced calculation speed during morphological modelling due to special techniques that have been developed for this software.

The software features an efficient Mesh Generator Tool to support the generation and handling of unstructured meshes including the definition and editing of boundaries.

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