My research is multidisciplinary and positioned at the interface between physical oceanography, geomorphology and coastal engineering. I investigate the processes that control the evolution of coastal, estuarine and sedimentary systems under the combined influence of hydrodynamics, sediment transport and environmental change, with a particular emphasis on shoreline evolution and coastal flooding under present and future climate change scenarios.
I began my research studying seabed patterns and bedform dynamics, which remain a central pillar of my scientific activity. This work focuses on the formation, stability and evolution of seabed features under waves and currents, combining theoretical analysis, laboratory experiments and numerical modelling. These process-based studies provide a fundamental understanding of sediment dynamics that naturally extends to larger-scale coastal and fluvial systems, including shoreline change, channel bifurcations and sediment-driven landscape evolution.
Over time, my research has expanded towards coastal and estuarine environments, where physical processes interact with ecological dynamics and climate-driven pressures. I actively collaborate with ecologists to investigate how hydrodynamics and morphodynamics influence habitats, sediment distribution and ecosystem functioning in transitional environments such as estuaries and deltas. This interdisciplinary perspective allows me to address coastal systems as coupled physical–ecological systems and to bridge traditionally separate domains within marine and environmental sciences.
A major focus of my current work is the prediction of shoreline evolution and coastal flooding, particularly in the context of sea-level rise, extreme events and compound coastal hazards. I develop modelling frameworks that integrate hydrodynamics, sediment transport and morphological change to produce physically consistent and policy-relevant predictions, including probabilistic assessments and map-based outputs that support coastal risk management and adaptation strategies.
Methodologically, my research integrates laboratory modelling, numerical experiments, field observations and data-driven approaches. I have a strong interest in laboratory experimentation as a means to investigate fundamental processes under controlled conditions, which I complement with process-based numerical models and the analysis of field datasets from coastal and estuarine environments. In parallel, I have been working with data-driven and machine learning approaches for over two decades, progressively incorporating AI-based methods into coastal and morphodynamic modelling. This long-standing experience enables the development of hybrid modelling frameworks that combine physics-based understanding with machine learning to improve predictions of shoreline change, coastal flooding and sediment dynamics.
A key aspect of my research philosophy is the integration of theory, experiments and real-world observations. I regularly use experimental and field data to calibrate and validate models, ensuring that predictive tools remain physically grounded while remaining applicable to real coastal challenges, including climate change impacts, coastal hazards and long-term landscape evolution. This approach contributes to the development of robust, scalable and AI-integrated modelling systems, including digital twin concepts for coastal and estuarine environments.
In parallel with my research activities, I am actively engaged in interdisciplinary dissemination and science communication. I host the science podcast Coast2Cast (www.coastalhub.science/coast2cast ), dedicated to coastal science, modelling and environmental challenges, fostering dialogue across disciplines and making coastal research more accessible to both scientific and broader audiences.