This project started with a question from our colleagues from Benin. They wanted to be able to set up a marine model for their region in order to protect their fisheries, their coasts prone to erosion, to warn their people in case of a storm surge. In short, they wanted to understand how marine models work and what they can do to improve their coastal management.
The project started with an evaluation meeting. During that workshop it was decided to set up a marine model that can predict water flows and sediment processes along their coastline. Because the methodogy for teaching the ins and outs of marine modelling is a project based training course of three weeks in Benin a central research question needed to be formulated. The theme of the project is to investigate the influence of the port development on the erosion of the surrounding beaches.
The first task is data collection: the bathymetry of the area is measured, the river discharge is measured and wind data are obtained. The second task is to set up a basic hydrdynamic model for the coast. Once that is up and running a sediment module will be added to describe the sediment flows.
The project will end with an exploration of further possibilities for cooperation.