Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic director focused on measurable results and operational excellence in maritime education. Integrates IMO/STCW regulations and ISO 21001/9001 f
Masters · 1600 h · 11 modules
Master's in Coastal Resilience and Storm Surge Protection
This program prepares you to lead the adaptation of our coasts to climate change. Learn to assess the vulnerability of coastal areas, design and implement innovative engineering solutions, and manage complex projects for flood…
Duration1600 h
FormatOnline
Starts14 December
Places20 / 20
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Programme overview
What is the Master’s in Coastal Resilience and Storm Surge Protection?
The Master in Coastal Resilience and Storm Surge Protection
This program prepares you to lead the adaptation of our coasts to climate change. Learn to assess the vulnerability of coastal areas, design and implement innovative engineering solutions, and manage complex projects for flood protection and erosion control. This program provides you with the necessary tools to create resilient coastal communities to face the challenges of the future.
Differential Advantages
- Multidisciplinary Approach: integrates knowledge from engineering, oceanography, ecology, and land-use planning.
- Cutting-edge Technologies: numerical modeling, early warning systems, green infrastructure, and nature-based solutions.
- Real-world Case Studies: analysis of international projects and collaboration with coastal management experts.
- Leadership Skills: project management, effective communication, and citizen engagement.
- Professional Networking: access to a global network of experts and opportunities for collaboration in research and development.
Programme type
Master's Degree
Study mode
Online
Duration
1,600 hours
Modules
11
Start date
07-12-2026
Programme highlights
- Comprehensive Analysis: Master the tools to assess coastal vulnerability and the risk of storm surges.
- Solution Design: Learn to design and implement resilient infrastructure and innovative coastal protection strategies.
- Management and Adaptation: Develop skills for the integrated management of coastal zones and adaptation to climate change.
- Advanced Simulations: Use state-of-the-art simulation models to predict and mitigate the impacts of extreme events.
- Hands-on Experience: Participate in real-world case studies and field projects that will connect you with the challenges current.
- Boost your career and contribute to the safety and sustainability of coastal communities.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 11 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Fundamentals of coastal resilience, coastal risks and protection from surge
- Coastal resilience concept and differences between adaptation, mitigation, protection, recovery and management of coastal risk
- Coastal dynamics, ocean interaction, atmosphere, sediments, ecosystems, infrastructures and human communities
- Main threats: surge, temporal, extreme waves, sea level rise, erosion and coastal flooding
- Relationship between climate change, territorial exposure, social vulnerability, adaptive capacity and economic losses
- Key players: Administrations, engineers, urban planners, coastal communities, ports, insurers, scientists and emergency agencies
- Resilience indicators: Recovery time, damage reduction, continuity of services, protection of ecosystems and human security
- Risks of poorly designed interventions: transfer of erosion, false sense of security, loss of habitats and extra costs
- Systemic approach to coastal resilience as integration of science, engineering, nature, planning and governance
- Current trends in climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, hybrid infrastructure and anticipatory planning
- Construction of comprehensive criteria to understand the coast as a dynamic, vulnerable and strategically manageable system
02
Coastal oceanography, extreme waves, surge and physical flooding coastline
- Fundamentals of coastal oceanography and relationship between wind, atmospheric pressure, waves, tides, currents and sea level
- Generation of storm surges, cyclones, pressure gradients, water accumulation and continental shelf effects
- Extreme surge, run-up, overtopping, setup, swash, breakers and propagation of energy towards the coast
- Interaction between astronomical tide, meteorological tide, waves, river flow and urban drainage in compound floods
- Erosion processes, sedimentary transport, coastline retracement and morphological modification after extreme events
- Local factors: bathymetry, beach slope, orientation, coves, estuaries, dunes, reefs, mangroves and existing works
- Measurement of coastal variables by means of tide gauges, buoys, sensors, drones, satellites, cameras and weather stations
- Analysis of historical events, return periods, uncertainty, climate scenarios and compound ends
- Conceptual Flood and Erosion Modelling to Understand Critical Zones and Water Inlet Routes
- Construction of physical criteria for evaluating swells and coastal processes with technical rigor
03
Vulnerability Assessment, Risk Mapping and Coastal Territorial Diagnosis
- Fundamentals of coastal risk assessment and relationship between threat, exposure, vulnerability, sensitivity and adaptive capacity
- Identification of exposed assets: homes, ports, roads, electrical networks, sanitation, tourism, heritage and ecosystems
- Flood mapping, erosion, coastal retreat, low zones, evacuation routes and priority protection areas
- Use of GIS, digital elevation models, satellite images, LiDAR data, bathymetry and territorial databases
- Social vulnerability assessment: Senior population, income, accessibility, economic dependence, risk perception and responsiveness
- Economic evaluation of potential damage, disruption of services, production losses, recovery costs and insurance exposure
- Multi-criteria indicators to prioritise coastal sectors according to criticality, urgency, viability and public benefit
- Community participation, local knowledge, memory of extreme events and social validation of technical diagnosis
- Risk communication through clear maps, understandable scenarios, territorial sheets and decision-oriented messages
- Construction of territorial diagnoses that allow to plan justified and socially useful coastal interventions
04
Gray infrastructure, coastal defences and engineering criteria for protection against surge
- Fundamentals of coastal protection by means of dikes, piers, breakwaters, walls, jets, boardwalks, gates and mobile barriers
- Design criteria versus waves, structural stability, scour, rebase, fatigue, corrosion, impact and maintenance
- Protection of ports, marinas, promenades, coastal roads, urban areas, industrial plants and critical infrastructure
- Advantages, limitations and side effects of rigid structures on sedimentary dynamics, landscape and ecosystems
- Coastal drainage design, pumping, non-return valves, protection of storm nets and urban-marine composite flooding
- Evaluation of structural alternatives according to cost, useful life, level of protection, environmental impact and social acceptability
- Inspection, maintenance, damage monitoring, reinforcement, rehabilitation and progressive adaptation of existing defences
- Safety during construction, operation, extreme events, evacuation and public use of protected spaces
- Integration of flexible design criteria before sea level rise and climate uncertainty scenarios
- Construction of engineering solutions that protect without compromising long-term coastal functionality
05
Nature-based solutions, hybrid infrastructure and restoration of protective ecosystems
- Fundamentals of nature-based solutions applied to coastal protection and surge risk reduction
- Dunes, beaches, marshes, mangroves, reefs, sea grasslands, coastal wetlands and coastal vegetation as natural barriers
- Restoration of dunes, beach feeding, revegetation, wetland recovery and floodplain reconnection
- Hybrid infrastructure: Combination of natural solutions with dikes, submerged breakwater, piers, walls and drainage systems
- Multiple benefits: Wave energy reduction, carbon capture, biodiversity, landscape, tourism, fishing and community well-being
- Risks and limitations: maturation time, maintenance, available space, extreme events, invasive species and social acceptance
- Indicators of ecological, hydrodynamic, social and economic performance to evaluate natural and hybrid solutions
- Local participation in restoration, maintenance, environmental surveillance, coastal education and appropriation of the project
- Financing of natural solutions through climate funds, insurance, compensation, green bonds and public-private partnerships
- Construction of hybrid strategies that increase protection, ecological resilience and territorial value
06
Coastal urban planning, land use planning and climate adaptation of coastal communities
- Fundamentals of resilient coastal planning and relationship between land use, exposure, mobility, housing, services and coastal risk
- Zoning of floodable areas, construction restrictions, planned withdrawals, easements, buffers and buffering spaces
- Adaptation of buildings: elevation, resistant materials, flood plants, temporary barriers and continuity of basic services
- Protection of critical infrastructure: hospitals, schools, electrical networks, drinking water, sanitation, telecommunications and transport
- Managed withdrawal strategies, relocation, land acquisition, compensation, climate justice and support for vulnerable communities
- Design of resilient coastal public spaces, flood parks, adaptive walks, safe access and evacuation routes
- Integration of coastal adaptation in urban plans, port plans, tourism, housing, economic development and emergency management
- Local governance, inter-institutional coordination, citizen participation, conflict management and transparent decision-making
- Policy evaluation through indicators of risk reduction, equity, investment, social acceptance and territorial sustainability
- Construction of coastal urban models capable of living with water and reducing future losses
07
Emergency Management, Early Warning, Operational Continuity and Post-Tide Recovery
- Fundamentals of coastal emergency management and differences between preparation, response, recovery, reconstruction and subsequent adaptation
- Early warning systems through weather forecasting, tide gauges, buoys, wave models, public communication and official protocols
- Evacuation plans, shelters, safe routes, vulnerable population, transportation, signage and response coordination
- Operational continuity of ports, public services, tourism, trade, hospitals, energy networks and coastal logistics chains
- Risk communication before, during and after extreme events through clear messages, multiple channels, and disinformation combat
- Rapid damage assessment, defence inspection, loss registration, repair prioritisation, and reset services
- Resilient Reconstruction, Build Back Better Criteria, Standards Review, Institutional Learning, and Reduction of Future Exposure
- Coordination between Civil Protection, Maritime Authorities, Municipalities, Communities, Companies, NGOs, Insurers and Scientific Organisations
- Drills, community training, table exercises, plan auditing and continuous improvement of preparation
- Building response systems that protect human life and accelerate recovery without reproducing previous vulnerabilities
08
Coastal risk economy, insurance, climate financing and cost-benefit assessment
- Economic fundamentals of coastal risk and relationship between preventive investment, avoided damage, residual loss and financial recovery
- Estimation of direct, indirect, intangible costs, ecosystem losses, business disruption and patrimonial impairment
- Cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness, multi-criteria and evaluation of alternatives for protection or adaptation
- Insurance against flooding, surge, temporary damage, parametric insurance, reinsurance and risk transfer
- Climate Financing, Adaptation Funds, Green Bonds, Blue Bonds, Blended Finance and Public-Private Partnerships
- Valuation of protective ecosystem services, blue carbon, tourism, fisheries, biodiversity and social welfare
- Design of coastal investment portfolios with structural, natural, social, regulatory and emergency measures
- Budget prioritisation according to urgency, equity, social return, asset criticality and cumulative risk reduction
- Financial transparency, accountability, results monitoring and prevention of low-efficiency investments
- Construction of economic models to finance coastal resilience with a long-term vision
09
Monitoring, advanced modelling, climate data and adaptive coastal management
- Coastal monitoring systems with sensors, weather stations, cameras, satellites, drones, LiDAR, bathymetry and citizen science
- Hydrodynamic models, wave models, flood models, morphodynamic models and simulation of extreme scenarios
- Integration of historical data, real-time observations, climate projections, digital models and geospatial analysis
- Calibration, validation, uncertainty, sensitivity, data quality and model boundary communication
- Coastal digital twins, dashboards, decision support systems, and visualisation of adaptation scenarios
- Adaptive management indicators: erosion, overflow, flooding, ecosystem recovery, avoided damage and social acceptance
- Periodic review of measures, thresholds of action, adaptive routes, signs of failure and updating of plans
- Using artificial intelligence for prediction, change detection, maintenance prioritisation, and vulnerability analysis
- Data Governance, Interoperability, Public Access, Sensitive Information Protection and Scientific Coordination
- Construction of continuous learning systems that maintain up-to-date coastal resilience in the face of climate change
10
Governance, regulations and social participation in coastal risk management
- legal framework for coastal protection
- European flood directive
- Flood risk management plans
- coordination between administrations
- Land planning and permitted uses
- citizen participation
- risk communication
- Equity and vulnerable groups
- international experiences
- Coastal Risk Governance Plan
11
Master’s Final Project in Coastal Resilience and Storm Surge Protection
- Definition of the case study: Coastal city, port, urban beach, island, estuary, critical infrastructure or community exposed to swells
- Physical, climate, social, economic, ecological and institutional diagnosis of the selected coastal system
- Evaluation of threats through surge, extreme swell, sea level, erosion, compound flooding and climate scenarios
- Exposure mapping, vulnerability, critical assets, evacuation routes, protective ecosystems and priority areas
- Protection strategy design with grey infrastructure, nature-based solutions, hybrid measures and urban adaptation
- Preparation of the emergency plan, early warning, operational continuity, risk communication and post-venture recovery
- Development of economic analysis with costs, benefits, financing, insurance, investment prioritisation and impact indicators
- Integration of Monitoring, Modelling, Adaptive Management, Data Governance and Regular Update Mechanisms
- Drafting of the comprehensive technical report with methodology, results, uncertainties, impacts, limitations and strategic recommendations
- Presentation and defence of the final project with technical, climate, social, economic and territorial validation of the developed coastal resilience strategy
Workload
Study Time and Workload
1600 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Civil and environmental engineering professionals seeking to specialize in the protection of coastal infrastructure and the management of risks associated with climate change.Natural resource managers and urban planners interested in developing adaptation and mitigation strategies for vulnerable coastal communities.Environmental consultants and technicians requiring advanced knowledge in flood
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
Verified reviews
Student Reviews
Reviews collected and verified by Opynio, not written by us.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Develop and implement adaptation strategies to address rising sea levels
- 02Designing coastal infrastructure resilient to extreme weather events
- 03Assess and mitigate coastal risks arising from climate change
- 04Leading the recovery of coastal communities after natural disasters
- 05Managing and optimizing resources for sustainable coastal protection
- 06Integrating science and politics into the governance of vulnerable coastal areas
Careers
Career Opportunities
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02Coastal Resilience Consultant: Risk assessment, design of adaptation and mitigation solutions, strategic planning.
03Storm Protection Project Manager: Direction and coordination of coastal infrastructure projects, from the design phase to execution and maintenance.
04Climate Change and Coastal Zones Researcher: Data analysis, future scenario modeling, development of new technologies for coastal protection.
05Environmental Impact Assessment Technician: Preparation of environmental impact studies for coastal projects, identification of mitigation and compensation measures.
06Coastal Zone Management Officer: Land use planning in coastal zones, natural resource management, development of climate change adaptation policies.
07Storm Early Warning Systems Specialist: Design and operation of systems Alert system, communication with the population, coordination with emergency services.
08Advisor on coastal resilience public policies: development of climate change adaptation strategies, design of public policies for coastal protection.
09Environmental educator on coastal issues: dissemination of knowledge about the importance of coastal protection, raising awareness about the effects of climate change.
Questions
Entry Requirements
Coastal risk management and mitigation, including storm surge protection, through a resilience approach.
Yes. The itinerary includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with harbor, ocean, fog, storm, and SAR scenarios.
Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator/practical placements through agreements.
It focuses on both aspects, both mitigating the effects of storm surges (protection) and adapting the coasts to long-term changes (resilience).
Recommended functional SMCP. We offer support materials for standard phraseology.
Yes, with a relevant degree or experience in maritime/port operations. The admissions interview will confirm suitability.
Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Collaborations and the Alumni Network.
Simulator practice (rubrics), defeat plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and applied TFM.
A degree from Navalis Magna Institute + operational portfolio (tracks, SOPs, reports and KPIs) useful for audits and employment.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
```htmlAcademic/Professional Profile:Bachelor's/Undergraduate Degree in Environmental Sciences, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Geography, Marine Biology or related field; or accredited professional experience in coastal management, land-use planning, or emergency response.Language proficiency:Recommended: Functional English for accessing scientific literature and participating in international forums.Documentation:Updated CV, copy of degree, academic transcript, ID/Passport, cover letter, and possibly a letter of recommendation.Technical requirements (for online):Compute
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Frequently Asked Questions
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