Introduction

In the analysis of the coastal water process, numerical models are often employed to
simulate the flow and water quality problems. The rapid development of computing
technology has furnished a large number of models to be employed in engineering or
environmental problems. To date, a variety of coastal models are available and the modelling
techniques have become quite mature. The numerical technique can be based on the finite
element method (Kliem et al. 2006, Jones and Davies 2007), finite difference method
(Buonaiuto and Bokuniewicz 2008, Tang et al. 2009), boundary element method
(Karamperidou et al. 2007, Duan et al. 2009), finite volume method (Aoki and Isobe 2007, Qi
et al. 2009), and Eulerian-Lagrangian method (Cheng et al. 1984). The time-stepping
algorithm can be implicit (Holly and Preissmann 1977), semi-implicit (Ataie-Ashtiani and
Farhadi 2006), explicit (Ghostine et al. 2008), or characteristic-based (Ataie-Ashtiani 2007,
Perera et al. 2008). The shape function can be of the first order, second order, or a higher
order. The modelling can be simplified into different spatial dimensions, i.e., a
one-dimensional model (Chau and Lee 1991, Abderrezzak and Paquier 2009),
two-dimensional depth-integrated model (Leendertse 1967, Tang et al. 2009),
two-dimensional lateral-integrated model (Wu et al. 2004, Elfeki et al. 2007),
two-dimensional layered model (Chau et al. 1996, Tucciarelli and Termini 2000),
three-dimensional model (Blumberg et al. 1999, Chau and Jiang 2001, Chau and Jiang 2002,
Carballo et al. 2009), and so forth. An analysis of coastal hydraulics and water quality often
demands the application of heuristics and empirical experience, and is accomplished through
some simplifications and modelling techniques according to the experience of specialists (Yu
and Righetto 2001). However, the accuracy of the prediction is to a great extent dependent on
open boundary conditions, model parameters, and the numerical scheme (Martin et al. 1999)
The adoption of a proper numerical model for a practical coastal problem is a highly
specialized task. Ragas et al. (1997) compared eleven U.K. and U.S.A. water quality models
utilized to find the allowable levels and types of discharge and concluded that model
selection was a complicated process of matching model features with the particular situation.
These predictive tools inevitably involve certain assumptions and/or limitations, and can be
applied only by experienced engineers who possess a comprehensive understanding of the
problem domain. This leads to severe constraints on the use of models and large gaps in
understanding and expectations between the developers and practitioners of a model.
Over the past two decades, there has been a widespread interest in the field of artificial
intelligence (AI) (Abbot 1989, Abbott 1993, Chau 1992, Garrett 1994, Chau and Zhang 1995,
Chau and Ng 1996, Recknagel et al. 1997, Ragas et al. 1997, Chau and Cheng 2002, Maier et

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al. 2001, Chen and Mynett 2003, Chau 2006, Kalra and Deo 2007, Muttil and Chau 2007,
Chen et al. 2008, Preis and Ostfeld 2008, Schories et al. 2009). The recent advancements in
AI technologies are rendering it possible to incorporate machine learning capabilities into
numerical modelling systems so as to bridge the gaps between developers and practitioners of
a model and lessen the burdens on human experts. The development of these intelligent
management systems is facilitated by employing some shells under the established
development platforms such as MathLab, Visual Basic, C++, and so forth. Owing to the
complexity of the numerical simulation of flow and/or water quality, there is an increasing
demand to couple AI with these mathematical models in order to cover more and more
characteristics contained in advanced computer technology.
In this book, the development and current progress of integration of different AI
technologies into coastal modelling are reviewed and discussed. The algorithms and methods
investigated include knowledge-based systems (KBS) (Chau 2006, Schories et al. 2009),
genetic algorithms (Chen et al. 2008, Preis and Ostfeld 2008), genetic programming (Kalra
and Deo 2007, Muttil and Chau 2007), artificial neural networks (Recknagel et al. 1997,
Chau and Cheng 2002), and fuzzy inference systems (Maier et al. 2001, Chen and Mynett
2003). KBSs have apparent advantages over the other systems in facilitating more transparent
transfers of knowledge in the use of models and in providing intelligent manipulation of
calibration parameters. This book may furnish some useful advice to some inexperienced
engineers on how to establish a numerical model, although an understanding of the
underlying theories is still necessary.

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