Kenneth ChengMathematical modeling

Editorial project overview

Coastal Defence Under Rising Tides

How does uncertainty in sea level and storm surge change the least-cost timing of coastal defences?

Teaching caseUpdated 19 Jan 2026
Technical figure from Coastal Defence Under Rising Tides
A reviewed research figure synchronized from ScienceProject. The original aspect ratio and labels are preserved. Source and generation notes.

Overview

The case joins a continuous sea-level trajectory, stochastic storm-surge sampling, and a cost objective. Students can interrogate how planning conclusions move when assumptions about extremes or damages change.

Key findings

  • The model demonstrates how uncertainty changes the cost frontier rather than prescribing a real defence plan.

Limitations

  • The city and damage functions are stylized.
  • Results are for modeling instruction rather than infrastructure design.

Technical record

Detailed source, calculations, generated figures, and reproduction instructions remain in ScienceProject. Open the technical project.

Version history

2026-01-19 — Curated overview reviewed against repository evidence.