DR
Dano Roelvink
Coastal Modelling & Morphodynamics Specialist
Founder — CoastalModelling · The Hague, Netherlands
Mission

My mission: advancing coastal science through physics-based, open-source modelling.

CoastalModelling is my independent practice, founded in 2026 after 40 years at Deltares and IHE/TU Delft. It is my vehicle for staying at the frontier of coastal modelling: collaborating with engineers, researchers and students worldwide, contributing to open-source model development, and working toward my long-held dream of simulating coastal evolution at a global scale.

What I do

Four areas of focus

Where CoastalModelling concentrates its energy.

Model development & validation
Developing and validating components and functionalities of coastal simulation models, and the interactions between them.
ShorelineS SnapWave XBeach Duna Delft3D
Specialized courses & expert advice
Giving specialized courses in coastal modelling and offering expert advice to partners, consultancies and public-sector clients anywhere in the world.
Student support & supervision
Supporting students interested in coastal modelling with advice, guidance and supervision — from MSc to PhD level.
Global coastal evolution modelling
Working towards a long-held dream: simulating coastal evolution on a global scale, bringing together decades of model development into a unified planetary view.

Background & Track Record

40 years of research, teaching and consultancy across five continents — the foundation behind CoastalModelling.

200+
Publications
20,000+
Citations
h 65+
h-index
40+
Years experience
Professional Experience
2026 – present
Founder & Principal Coastal Modelling Specialist
CoastalModelling — The Hague, Netherlands
  • Process-based hydrodynamic and morphodynamic modelling
  • Storm impact, erosion and flooding assessments
  • Long-term shoreline evolution and scenario analysis
  • Independent review and validation of modelling studies
  • Technical input to feasibility studies and detailed designs
1985 – 2026
Senior Coastal Morphodynamics Specialist
Deltares — Delft, Netherlands
  • Core contributor to Delft3D coastal morphodynamic model development
  • Principal investigator for coastal morphology
  • Technical lead and advisor in international consultant-led projects
  • Development of rapid assessment and long-term morphodynamic tools
2005 – 2026
Professor of Coastal Engineering
IHE Delft / TU Delft
  • Training of professional engineers and consultants
  • Development of XBeach, Duna, ShorelineS, SnapWave
  • Supervision of applied MSc and PhD research
  • Coordination of internationally funded applied research programmes
Key Qualifications
Coastal hydrodynamics & morphodynamics (1D/2D/3D) Wave–current–sediment interaction modelling Storm erosion, overwash & breaching Delta & estuarine sediment dynamics Long-term shoreline evolution & management Nature-based solutions (mangroves, dunes, reefs) Model development, benchmarking & validation Independent technical review Morphodynamic acceleration (MORFAC) Scenario-based & long-term modelling
Selected Assignments
Forecasting Hurricane Impacts on Coasts (FHICS)
🇺🇸 United States 2021 – present Waves & Morphology Expert
Operational coastal erosion and flooding models for hurricane impact forecasting along the US East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. Client: US Office of Naval Research.
Long-Term Monitoring & Modelling of Bangladesh Coastal Zone
🇧🇩 Bangladesh 2018 – 2021 International Key Expert
Delta-scale and estuary-scale morphodynamic modelling for long-term coastal planning. Client: Bangladesh Water Development Board / World Bank.
Coastal Erosion of the Lower Mekong Delta
🇻🇳 Vietnam 2016 – 2019 International Expert / Coordinator
Process-based modelling of erosion, sediment dynamics and coastal protection measures. Client: Agence Française du Développement.
West African Coastal Areas (WACA) – Shoreline Change Modelling
🌍 West Africa 2016 – 2021 Numerical Modelling Expert
Shoreline evolution models and decision-support tools for coastal management. Client: World Bank.
Coastal Monitoring & Modelling System, Senegal
🇸🇳 Senegal 2018 – 2020 International Key Expert
Integrated short- to long-term modelling and capacity building for a complex river-mouth system. Client: ADM.
Inlet Stabilisation at Grand Bassam
🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire 2012 – 2015 Modelling Expert & Project Leader
Feasibility studies for stabilisation of the Comoë river mouth; morphodynamic modelling and capacity building.
Coastal Erosion Expert Mission
🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire 2011 Team Leader
Strategic advice on coastal erosion: field excursions, expert meetings. Client: Ministry of Environment.
Delft3D Training — Hydraulic Research Institute
🇪🇬 Egypt 2002 Team Leader
Hands-on training in advanced hydrodynamic and morphological modelling tools with Egyptian case studies.
Selected Publications
200+
Peer-reviewed papers
20,000+
Google Scholar citations
65+
h-index
D Roelvink, M Van Ormondt, J Reyns, M Van Der Lugt (2025). SnapWave: fast, implicit wave transformation from offshore to nearshore. Geoscientific Model Development 18(23), 9469–9495.SnapWave
J Reyns, B Jagers, R Ranasinghe, H Kernkamp, D Roelvink (2025). A three-dimensional process-based morphodynamic model on orthogonal unstructured grids. Coastal Engineering, 104915.Delft3D-FM
A Elghandour, J Reyns, S Costas, J Nienhuis, D Roelvink (2023). Coastline evolution due to tidal inlet migration using a free form coastline model. Coastal Sediments 2023, 1181–1187.
H Elmilady, M van der Wegen, D Roelvink, A van der Spek (2022). Modeling the morphodynamic response of estuarine intertidal shoals to sea-level rise. JGR: Earth Surface 127(1).
D Roelvink, B Huisman, A Elghandour, M Ghonim, J Reyns (2020). Efficient modeling of complex sandy coastal evolution at monthly to century time scales. Frontiers in Marine Science 7, 535.ShorelineS
D Roelvink, S Costas (2019). Coupling nearshore and aeolian processes: XBeach and Duna process-based models. Environmental Modelling & Software 115, 98–112.Duna
Dano Roelvink and Ad Reniers (2011). A Guide to Modeling Coastal Morphology. World Scientific, Singapore, 280 pp.
D Roelvink, Ad Reniers, Ap van Dongeren et al. (2009). Modelling storm impacts on beaches, dunes and barrier islands. Coastal Engineering 56(11–12), 1133–1152.XBeach