Coastal Engineering is an international medium for coastal engineers and scientists. A branch of civil engineering concerned with the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of works in the coastal zone. The purposes of these works include control of shoreline erosion, development of navigation channels and harbors, defense against flooding caused by storms, tides, and seismically generated waves (tsunamis), development of coastal recreation, and control of pollution in nearshore waters. Coastal engineering usually involves the construction of structures or the transport and possible stabilization of sand and other coastal sediments.