How We Serve Our Clients
CPE is your solution for a wide range of coastal projects.
Our firm is organized as a total program management solution with a wide range of services including Coastal Engineering, Numerical Modeling, Coastal Geology, Environmental Permitting, Construction Administration, Biological Monitoring, and Physical Monitoring. Throughout every task, our Project Managers coordinate closely with our clients to plan, design, permit, and construct projects that restore, manage, and protect coastal resources and infrastructure.Coastal Engineering
We develop projects that create more resilient coastlines thorough beach nourishment, dune restoration, inlet and canal management, artificial reefs, coastal structures, or a combination of components.
Numerical Modeling
We are pioneers in embracing the most advanced models for simulating wave transformation, multidimensional flows and sediment transport, beach erosion/accretion, inlet processes, water quality, storm surge, sea level rise, and flooding.
Coastal Geology
CPE supports coastal programs with offshore sand source investigations, remote sensing, geotechnical testing of sediments, sand compatibility analyses, permitting of project compatible materials from upland and marine sources, and sediment QA/QC.
Coastal Resiliency
Sea level rise and extreme storms are major threats to the resiliency and sustainability of coastal communities. At CPE, we combine our extensive expertise to evaluate the vulnerability of coastal communities for development of sea level rise adaptation strategies.
Environmental Permitting
CPE coordinates with state and federal permitting agencies to prepare comprehensive permit applications that meet project goals while protecting natural resources.
Construction Administration
CPE supports our clients throughout construction, from the development of comprehensive plans for bidding and procurement through construction administration, project completion, and certification.
Biological Monitoring
CPE biologists implement approved biological monitoring plans pre- and post-construction to detect potential changes in benthic habitats over time.
Physical Monitoring
Physical surveys and monitoring programs are critical to CPE’s Engineers and Scientists for performing coastal process assessments, designing beach nourishment projects, and evaluating potential erosion control solutions.
Coastal Engineering
CPE’s coastal engineering professionals are experts in the planning and design of beach, inlet, and shoreline stabilization projects. Our staff have worked together for decades to complete a variety of solutions for preserving coastal environments and protecting infrastructure. We work together as a team with our clients to design the most effective solutions to solve erosion issues. Our success in providing engineering solutions is driven by the application of engineering fundamentals and proven methodologies combined with innovative design and advanced technologies. In doing so, we develop projects that create more resilient coastlines thorough beach nourishment, dune restoration, inlet/canal management, artificial reefs, coastal structures, or a combination of components.
Numerical Modeling
The behavior of beaches, inlets, and coastlines is often complex and interrelated, requiring evaluation of a wide range of solutions with numerical modeling for engineering, design, and permitting of coastal projects. The founding members of CPE are pioneers in embracing the most advanced models for simulating wave transformation, multidimensional flows and sediment transport, beach erosion/accretion, inlet processes, water quality, storm surge, sea level rise, and flooding. Our professionals apply these advanced numerical methods based on proven engineering principles to assess performance expectations and impacts of coastal projects. This approach is a critical tool in optimizing adaptation strategies and improving community resilience to storms.
Coastal Geology
CPE supports coastal programs with offshore sand source investigations, remote sensing, geotechnical testing of sediments, sand compatibility analyses, permitting of project compatible materials from upland and marine sources, and sediment QA/QC. Our Professional Geologists lead offshore sand searches using the most advanced methods to identify, design, and permit new or modified project compatible sand sources for clients. Working with our network of specialized firms to assist in collecting geotechnical, geophysical, bathymetric, and archaeological data, our team successfully investigates potential sand sources in both state and federal waters. The information generated from our geologic field investigations, along with real-time engineering design and environmental coordination, result in precise borrow area definition and an optimal depth of excavation for permitting and construction. Our geologists also evaluate upland mined materials for project suitability.
Environmental Permitting
Permitting can be one of the most complex and time-consuming processes of any coastal project. Our team’s multidisciplinary staff regularly coordinate with state and federal permitting agencies on coastal construction projects to provide timely, cost-effective solutions that meet project goals while protecting natural resources. CPE understands the intricacies of coastal permitting and proactively facilitates coordination and communication to address agency concerns, resulting in timely and comprehensive application packages. During the permitting process, our clients benefit from a longstanding trust and mutual professional respect developed over decades of working with regulatory agency staff on a wide range of successful projects. CPE’s biologists are also well-versed and professionally trained in the NEPA process and have prepared numerous Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), Environmental Assessments (EA), and other supporting documents, such as Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) assessments, Biological Assessments (BA), and Cumulative Effects Assessments (CEA) to assist state and federal regulatory consultations.
Construction Administration
When it comes time for construction, CPE will support you from the development of comprehensive plans and specifications for bidding and procurement through construction administration, project completion, and certification. Our team of engineers, geologists, and biologists are hands-on throughout the design process and work directly with in-house GIS and CAD professionals to turn concepts into engineered drawings for permit compliance and construction. This streamlines the development of construction plans with continuous QA/QC review and results in delivery of contract documents with higher efficiency and consistency. During construction, CPE serves as the owner’s agent and Engineer of Record with construction support tailored to each client’s needs and budget. Upon completion of the project, CPE provides all the professional services needed for project payment, permit compliance, close-out, certification, and post-construction monitoring.
Biological Monitoring
CPE biologists routinely develop streamlined and effective hardbottom, artificial reef, and seagrass monitoring plans for coastal projects. We coordinate with our clients and regulatory agencies throughout development of these programs to ensure the highest standard of data collection, maintain efficiency, and minimize monitoring costs to our clients. Before and after construction, CPE biologists implement the approved monitoring plans and conduct benthic assessments applying a variety of quantitative and qualitative methodologies to detect potential changes in habitat over time. We also periodically review approved monitoring plans throughout the life of project permits and revise methods as needed. When coastal projects may result in unavoidable impacts to benthic resources, we also coordinate with state and federal agencies to determine appropriate and reasonable mitigation requirements and to develop effective and cost-efficient monitoring protocols.
Physical Monitoring
Physical surveys of the beach and nearshore areas are critical to coastal process assessment, the design of beach nourishment projects, and evaluating potential erosion control solutions. CPE has assisted clients in developing site specific and regional monitoring programs for coastal projects and sediment transport analyses. Monitoring data are routinely used to analyze the performance of past projects and adjust the design of future projects to improve performance. CPE maintains professional relationships with highly trained and licensed surveyors to provide topographic and hydrographic surveys consistent with professional standards for CPE engineers to conduct these important coastal process analyses and prepare permit required engineering monitoring reports.
Additional Services
- GIS/CAD Support
- Drone Capabilities
- Public Meetings and Community Outreach
- Coastal Resiliency Studies
- Grant Funding Requests
- FEMA Claims and Disaster Mitigation
