Distance or similarity measures are essential to solve many pattern recognition problems such as classification, clustering, and retrieval problems. Various distance/similarity measures that are applicable to compare two probability density functions, pdf in short, are reviewed and categorized in both syntactic and semantic relationships. A correlation coefficient and a hierarchical clustering technique are adopted to reveal similarities among numerous distance/similarity measures.

Comprehensive Survey on Distance/Similarity Measures between Probability Density Functions

Evolution of Design Method Against Random Waves Statistical Properties and Spectral of Sea Waves Transformation and Deformation of Random Sea Waves Design of Breakwaters Design of Coastal Dikes and Seawalls Probabilistic Design of Harbor Facilities Harbor Tranquility and Vessel Mooring Hydraulic Model Tests with Random Waves Theoretical Description of Random Sea Waves Statistical Theory of Irregular Waves Techniques of Random Wave Analysis 2D Computation of Wave Transformation with Random Breaking and Nearshore Currents Statistical Analysis of Extreme Waves Prediction and Control of Beach Deformation Processes.

Random seas and design of maritime structures

National Council: I Bassingthwaighte NK Baumgarten KNF Chihota TC Chetty KF Clinton Q Esteves L Forshey WRB Hamlyn AE Gebhardt J Goldswain C Hutchison BF Kirchmann (Honarary Life Member) P Lombaard K Mamabolo MM Ngcobo N Nkabinde V Nondo AG Oldfield J Pelser CSF Shepherd W Schultze JH Solomon G Smith G Stroebel JO Truter AJ van Riet (Honarary Life Member) E van Niekerk F Viruly A Zeiss Directors: M van der Walt (President) BM Kodisang (President Elect) MA Phakathi (Immediate Past President) NA Gopal (Chief Executive Officer) PD Naidoo MM Ngcobo W Schultze Incorporated Association not for gain THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY PRETORIA REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 3rd June 2008

The department of trade and industry

A multi-scale asymptotic theory is derived for the evolution and interaction of currents and surface gravity waves in water of finite depth, under conditions typical of coastal shelf waters outside the surf zone. The theory provides a practical and useful model with which wave–current coupling may be explored without the necessity of resolving features of the flow on space and time scales of the primary gravity-wave oscillations. The essential nature of the dynamical interaction is currents modulating the slowly evolving phase of the wave field and waves providing both phase-averaged forcing of long infra-gravity waves and wave-averaged vortex and Bernoulli-head forces and hydrostatic static set-up for the low-frequency current and sea-level evolution equations. Analogous relations are derived for wave-averaged material tracers and density stratification that include advection by horizontal Stokes drift and by a vertical Stokes pseudo-velocity that is the incompressible companion to the horizontal Stokes velocity. Illustrative solutions are analysed for the special case of depth-independent currents and tracers associated with an incident surface wave field and a vortex with O(1) Rossby number above continental shelf topography.

An asymptotic theory for the interaction of waves and currents in coastal waters

Evaluating the performance of morphological models

Sea walls are expensive, and fixing a sea-wall freeboard at too large a value has a financial penalty and is unnecessarily damaging to the natural environment owing to the increased impact of the structure on its surroundings. On the other hand, if the crest of a sea wall is set too low then there are potential problems with structural safety and flooding from wave overtopping. Hence, it is important to strike the correct balance between satisfying the structural and functional requirements of the project, avoiding unnecessary expense, and having undesirable impacts on the surrounding environment. The prediction of wave overtopping rates is usually based on empirical equations fitted to laboratory data. These equations do not have any theoretical basis. However, a new model has now been developed which, unlike existing expressions, accounts for the fact that no overtopping (apart from wind-blown spray) occurs if the sea-wall freeboard exceeds the maximum wave run-up on the face of the structure. This fact is of practical importance because allowable overtopping discharges to ensure the safety of people and property are quite small. This paper starts with a brief review of existing overtopping equations, then presents the new model, and concludes by giving an example of its practical implications. It is shown that, for some conditions, the new model predicts sea-wall freeboards which are several metres less than those predicted by the well-known expression given by Owen.

Terry Hedges

Papers

Random wave overtopping of simple sea walls: a new regression model.

Regions of validity of analytical wave theories.

The tidal range energy potential of the West Coast of the United Kingdom

An empirical modification to linear wave theory

Extended energy-balance-equation wave model for multidirectional random wave transformation