Eustis Engineering L.L.C.’s own Sean Walsh, P.E., was chosen to present at the biennial State of the Coast Conference which took place from 1-3 June 2016 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Sean Walsh

Sean Walsh

Walsh was chosen to present a discussion entitled “Coastal Infrastructure and Vulnerability: Geotechnical Design Adaptations.”

He presented conceptual adaptations to the design of coastal infrastructure for integration of resiliency with conventional geotechnical engineering designs.

“I presented information demonstrating how soil testing, real-time geotechnical monitoring, and predictive analysis tools can help us assess the risk potential of existing and future coastal protection,” Walsh said.

Walsh said technological advances have created an environment ripe for change.

“The safety factor approach is the engineer’s all-encompassing correction for the various unknowns that exist within the foundation soils,” Walsh said. “However, this design approach may be improved upon for structures supported by soils that weaken under repeated loading. Everyone from politicians to engineers/planners to educators to residents of coastal areas (all around the US) have a growing awareness to the importance of our coastal infrastructure.  As the coastal conditions change, so does our need for the types of design and life-cycles of design.”

Walsh’s gave his presentation on 3 June.

Eustis Engineering's Lars Erickson also made a presentation during the conference on 1 June entitled "Evaluation of Settling Velocity of Fine-grained Dredged Sediments Used in Louisiana Coastal Restoration Projects."  This presentation was based on the research he conducted while earning his Master of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New Orleans.  Erickson also earned a Coastal Engineering Graduate Certificate during his studies at UNO.

Eustis Engineering also had a booth set up for the duration of the conference.  The goal of this biennial conference is to provide a place for professionals of various disciplines to discuss the current issues facing Louisiana’s coast and to share information and ideas for restoration and protection.

For more information about this conference, visit http://stateofthecoast.org/