Welcome to the CCHT! We develop computational models for wind waves and coastal circulation, and then apply these models to high-resolution simulations of ocean behavior. Our goals are to understand how coastlines are threatened during storms, how materials are transported in the coastal environment, and how to communicate these hazard risks for use in decision support. Our research spans the disciplines of coastal engineering, numerical methods, computational mathematics, and high-performance computing.

In this web site, we share our research progress, from development to application, and from coding to publishing. Learn more about What We Do and how to Join Our Team.

News: Winners at CCEE 3MT

2026/04/22 – NCSU Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
Coastal Engineering Student Takes Home 1st Place Prize at 3MT Competition

ncsu-engr

“The work of civil, construction, and environmental engineers impacts communities, and part of the education students receive here is to ensure they are prepared to communicate effectively with stakeholders they will encounter in their careers,” Kittle Autry said.

As for advice to next year’s participants, Lott said to simply have fun with it.

“This has nothing to do with pressure,” Lott said. “It’s a way to step out of your normal day to day and get a different kind of experience.”

Sarah Grace and Jenero win Awards at CCEE 3MT

Sarah Grace Lott won the First Place Award at the 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering (CCEE). She presented one slide about her community-engaged modeling as part of our NSF DRRG project.

Sarah Grace accepts her award from Dr. Meagan Kittle Autry.

Jenero Knowles was the People’s Choice Award, as voted by attendees of the event. He presented one slide about his worst-possible storm framework as part of our DOD ESTCP project.

Jenero accepts his award from Dr. Meagan Kittle Autry.

Congratulations to Sarah Grace and Jenero!

Casey wins CCEE Senior Mentor Award

Casey won the Excellence in Mentoring Award (Senior Faculty) from the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering (CCEE) at NC State University. This is nice recognition, especially because the nominations are submitted by the students. He appreciated the kind words in their nomination letters. We have a great team!

Casey accepts the award from Jackie MacDonald Gibson, while joined by his students Katherine Couch, Sarah Grace Lott, Jenero Knowles, Nicole Arrigo, Nahruma Pieu, and Kira Nuviae.

News: Spotlight on Sarah Grace

2026/03/16 – Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center
Researcher Spotlight – Sarah Grace Lott

What results are you finding? Coastal communities on the North Carolina Outer Banks are engaged and want to plan for more resilient futures. By modeling adaptations, such as returning sections of the barrier islands to natural processes or raising the elevation of marshes, we have found that some of the preferred adaptations to reduce flooding actually led to more widespread flooding within communities. We have also found that adaptations have local effects on flooding. Looking to the future, communities will need to coordinate across the entire region to lead to widespread resiliency.

Who will benefit from your research? This research directly benefits the community members of the North Carolina Outer Banks. Our work is grounded in community participation. All of our research questions and modeling scenarios are directly informed by the people who live in vulnerable communities. My goal is that by seeing the potential outcomes of different choices modeled out, these communities will have a powerful new tool to help them envision, discuss, and plan for a more resilient future.

Sarah Grace wins Second Place at EWC Symposium

Sarah Grace Lott won Second Place at the Environmental, Water Resources, and Coastal (EWC) Engineering Graduate Research Symposium, hosted by the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering (CCEE) at NC State University. The award is voted on by judges who are local engineers and scientists (and often former students!). CCHT members Jenero Knowles and Nicole Arrigo were also finalists for awards.

Congratulations to Sarah Grace!

Sarah Grace (center) was presented the award by Drs. Katherine Anarde and Jacelyn Rice-Boayue.

Posters: EWC Symposium 2026

NK Arrigo, JC Dietrich, TC Massey. “Spatial and temporal controls within a coupled spectral wave and circulation model.” Environmental, Water Resources, and Coastal Engineering Graduate Research Symposium, North Carolina State University, 6 Mar 2026.

Spatial and temporal controls within a coupled spectral wave and circulation model.

SG Lott, JC Dietrich, EL Seekamp, AJ Ross. “Community-Informed modeling of storm surge adaptations on barrier islands.” Environmental, Water Resources, and Coastal Engineering Graduate Research Symposium, North Carolina State University, 6 Mar 2026.

Community-Informed modeling of storm surge adaptations on barrier islands.

SS Omogbehin, JC Dietrich. “Baroclinic 3D modeling of circulation patterns in the Pamlico-Albemarle Sound System.”Environmental, Water Resources, and Coastal Engineering Graduate Research Symposium, North Carolina State University, 6 Mar 2026.

Baroclinic 3D modeling of circulation patterns in the Pamlico-Albemarle Sound System

JS Knowles, JC Dietrich, SK Ghosh. “Identifying the Extreme Scenario of Storm Tides from Tropical Cyclones in Coastal Communities.” Environmental, Water Resources, and Coastal Engineering Graduate Research Symposium, North Carolina State University, 6 Mar 2026.

Identifying the Extreme Scenario of Storm Tides from Tropical Cyclones in Coastal Communities.

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