Exploring groundbreaking research from the 2018 International Conference on Environment and Ocean Engineering
Imagine our planet not as a collection of continents, but as a single, vast ocean, dotted with islands of land. This blue heart of Earth drives our climate, feeds billions, and connects nations. Yet, this critical realm is undergoing a profound transformation, a silent shift beneath the waves that demands our understanding.
At the front lines of this change are the ocean engineers and environmental scientists—the architects of our blue future. Their work was the central focus when researchers from across the globe gathered in Taipei for the 2018 International Conference on Environment and Ocean Engineering (ICEOE). This conference served as a vital hub, a place where groundbreaking research on the dynamic interplay between human engineering and the marine environment was shared and debated, all with the goal of ensuring the safety and sustainability of our interactions with the sea 1 .
Studying marine ecosystems and their responses to environmental changes
Understanding how climate change affects ocean dynamics and coastal areas
Developing technologies for sustainable interaction with marine environments
"On behalf of the organizing committee, we're glad to announce that the conference has been held successfully in National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan this year. We look forward to seeing you all again in the future." 1
With this simple announcement, the success of ICEOE 2018 was recorded. While the precise details of every presentation remain in the proceedings, the collective mission of the conference was clear: to address the "huge challenges" our world's environment and oceans face, from ongoing population growth and limited natural resources to the overarching effects of climate change 7 . This event provided a premier forum for leading scientists and researchers to present developments and discuss priority topics, setting the stage for innovations that would ripple through the field for years to come 1 7 .
To understand the significance of the research presented at ICEOE, one must first grasp the vast scope of ocean engineering. It is a field that provides a medium for original research and development work covering an astonishing range of topics 2 .
Think of it as a discipline that bridges the gap between the immense power of the ocean and the needs of human society. It encompasses the design of towering fixed and floating offshore platforms for energy production, the complex laying of pipelines and risers across the seabed, and the engineering of sophisticated cables and mooring systems that keep massive structures in place. Furthermore, it drives the technology for marine and offshore renewable energy, aiming to harness the power of waves, wind, and tides, and extends to aquaculture engineering and environmental protection efforts to ensure our use of the ocean is sustainable 2 .
Using advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to understand how ocean structures interact with waves and wind 2 .
Ensuring that materials and structures can withstand the relentless fatigue and fracture caused by the marine environment 2 .
Designing and operating AUVs and ROVs to be our eyes and hands in the deep 2 .
At its core, ocean engineering is about solving problems in one of the most challenging environments on Earth.
One area of research that perfectly illustrates the confluence of environmental change and ocean engineering—and a topic likely featured in discussions at ICEOE—is the study of wave interactions with Arctic sea ice. As global warming leads to "significant reductions in Arctic sea ice extent," the polar regions are experiencing larger areas of open water, which in turn creates a more dynamic wave environment 4 . This is not just an abstract climate concern; it has direct implications for the safety of increased vessel operations and the stability of the polar ecosystem 4 .
To unravel the complex physics of how ocean waves break up ice covers, scientists have devised ingenious experiments. A compelling study published in Ocean Engineering in 2025 exemplifies this approach, building on the kind of foundational research shared at conferences like ICEOE 4 .
Researchers investigated the nonlinear dynamics of wave-induced overwash and attenuation in floating flexible plates. In simpler terms, they studied how waves wash over flexible sheets that mimic ice floes, and how those sheets cause waves to lose energy and weaken.
The team created flexible plates from urethane rubber, engineering them to simulate the physical properties of real sea ice 4 .
Plates were placed in a controlled wave flume with instruments like wave gauges to measure water behavior with precision 4 .
Researchers developed a sophisticated Numerical Wave Tank (NWT) using LS-DYNA software for digital simulations 4 .
The team analyzed results focusing on wave attenuation and the onset of overwash 4 .
The findings from this combined experimental and numerical approach were revealing. The study successfully quantified how factors like wave period and plate flexibility govern the onset of overwash and the rate of wave energy dissipation 4 .
A crucial finding was the role of the plate's viscoelasticity. Unlike perfectly elastic materials, the urethane plates dissipated energy through internal friction when flexed by waves. This is a key property of real sea ice, as waves cause strain energy that is not entirely returned, leading to damping. The more flexible plates experienced higher deformations during severe overwashes, which in turn affected how they scattered and absorbed wave energy 4 .
| Material/Technology | Function in Research |
|---|---|
| Urethane Rubber Flexible Plates | Mimics the flexural and dissipative properties of sea ice |
| Wave Flume | Controlled laboratory channel for generating waves |
| Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) | Numerical simulation for fluid-structure interactions |
| Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) | Modeling free-surface flows and severe overwash events |
| Wave Gauges | Measure water surface elevation and wave height |
| Wave Period (s) | Wave Height Before (cm) | Wave Height After (cm) | Attenuation (%) | Overwash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 10.0 | 7.5 | 25.0 | No |
| 1.5 | 10.0 | 6.2 | 38.0 | No |
| 2.0 | 10.0 | 4.8 | 52.0 | Minor |
| 2.5 | 10.0 | 3.5 | 65.0 | Significant |
| Elastic Modulus (MPa) | Classification | Max Bending (mm) | Attenuation (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Very Flexible | 45.2 | 40.1 |
| 50 | Medium Flexibility | 22.5 | 52.0 |
| 500 | Stiff | 8.7 | 58.5 |
The results showed a clear trend: longer-period waves led to significantly greater wave attenuation but also a higher likelihood of overwash. Furthermore, stiffer plates caused more wave attenuation but experienced much less deformation. This trade-off is at the heart of predicting how different types of ice covers will respond to storm waves in a changing Arctic.
The wave-ice interaction study is just one example of the sophisticated methods employed in modern ocean engineering. The field relies on a diverse arsenal of tools and technologies to explore, measure, and innovate. Ocean Engineering, a leading journal in the field, highlights the breadth of this toolkit, which includes everything from AUV/ROV design for underwater exploration to stochastic calculations for assessing the safety and reliability of marine structures in the face of unpredictable ocean forces 2 .
The 2018 International Conference on Environment and Ocean Engineering was more than just a meeting—it was a confluence of ideas dedicated to the stewardship of our planet's final frontier.
While the specific presentations have paved the way for new research, the enduring legacy of such gatherings is the sustained collaboration they inspire. The work showcased there, and in subsequent studies on wave-ice dynamics, naval architecture, and renewable energy, underscores a critical message: our future is inextricably linked to the health and sustainable use of the ocean 1 4 6 .
As the field continues to evolve, with conferences like ICEOE continuing into 2025 and beyond, the mission remains clear: to harness engineering ingenuity not to conquer the sea, but to understand, adapt, and coexist with it wisely 7 . The journey of discovery continues, wave by measured wave.
International cooperation is essential for addressing global ocean challenges
Engineering solutions must prioritize environmental protection
Continued research is needed to understand complex ocean systems