Teaching fundamental concepts of coastal engineering using excel spreadsheet

A Microsoft-Excel spreadsheet was developed using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) functions to calculate fundamental wave properties using linear wave theory, simple wave transformations, tidal elevations, tsunami travel time, wind wave growth parameters, design wave heights using Raleigh's probability distribution, breakwater dimensions, and longshore sediment transport rates. This spreadsheet was used in teaching an undergraduate coastal engineering course. The students were found to be motivated to study the subject matter with the help of VBA functions and develop their own applications in coastal engineering. This spreadsheet may be helpful to the practicing engineers as well for calculations relevant to some important wave parameters that are used in the design of coastal structures.