The Coasts, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute (COPRI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is one of the organization's most technically active institutes although it is also one of its newest and smallest. The Institute was created in October 2000 and currently has 3,118 members, including 448 international members from 72 countries, such as Canada, England, Japan, India and Nigeria. COPRI replaced the former Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean (WPCO) Division of the ASCE Technical Activities. Former WPCO Division members are COPRI's founding members.
COPRI is an international leader in promoting multidiscipline knowledge, education, practice and policy in coastal regions, oceans, ports, waterways, rivers and wetlands for the benefit of society. It unites the civil engineering and non-civil engineering disciplines by:
- Integrating key stakeholders into the decision-making process
- Advancing the state of the art and practice
- Influencing public practice.
Institute members encourage dialogue and cooperation between domestic and international members and within the respective industry as a whole.
COPRI Technical Committees
The Institute's technical committees include:
Coastal Engineering Practice. Members focus on ensuring the proper application of science and technology in the planning, design and construction of coastal engineered works. This committee promotes:
- An international and integrated approach to engineering methods
- Consideration of the effects of projects on the coastal environment
- Awareness of coastal engineering benefits to society
- Research relevant the coastal engineering practice
- Opportunities for professional continuing education.
Coastal Structures. Members study and report on problems related to the methods of planning, design and construction of coastal structures subjected to wave action.
Coastal Zone Management (CZM). Members advance the science and practice of coastal zone management by studying and reporting on federal, regional, state and local efforts to plan and regulate design, construction and maintenance activities in coastal zones. This committee:
- Prepares manuals and papers
- Sponsors lectures and seminars
- Conducts research on coastal zone management
- Coordinates professional practice activities with numerous social and scientific disciplines exercising authority in and having specialized knowledge of the coastal zone.
Military Programs. Members study and disseminate information for all aspects of international military-related programs and applications within the realm of COPRI's mission. They also:
- Serve as liaisons with other professional organizations interested in military programs
- Coordinate and communicate with other professional practice fields involved in national and international military facilities.
Ocean and Offshore Engineering. Members focus on the interrelationships between hydrodynamics, structural design, structural dynamics and geotechnical engineering in the offshore ocean environment. They coordinate and communicate with other COPRI technical committees and ASCE Institutes on the study and reporting of wave characteristics and climates. A goal is to stimulate study and development of planning, design, construction and operation engineered works subject to waves and wave forces.
Ports and Harbors. Members study and disseminate information pertaining to the planning, design, construction, maintenance, operation, pollution control and technical functioning of ports and harbors for the purposes of:
- Meeting the locality and waterborne transportation, commercial (including fishing) and recreational needs
- Ensuring expansion plans meet future needs and address environmental impacts of all port related activities, facilities and operations.
Seismic Design of Piers and Wharves. This committee provides seismic analysis, pier and wharf design guidance by addressing these engineered facilities' unique load combinations and the geotechnical issues associated with the construction of piers and wharfs in locations affected by seismic forces.
Tidal Hydraulics. Members define and develop technical activities relating to the hydraulics of bays and estuaries by researching environmental problems and studying the effects of engineered facilities design and management practices on the preservation of bays and estuaries.
Waterways. Committee work is concerned with the use and control of natural and manmade waterways; and the study and reporting on the problems and methods of planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of water- ways, including dredging, stabilization, navigation, flood control and regulations, considering the environmental impacts associated with these waterway activities.
Wetlands and Sediment Management. Members develop and coordinate the publication of manuals of practice regarding wetlands restoration, river restoration, constructed wetlands and watershed management.
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Membership
COPRI membership includes ASCE and non-ASCE individual, student and organizational members.
Individual membership consists of people who are working in the planning, design, construction, operation, management and regulation of engineered projects associated with coasts, oceans, ports, waterways, rivers and wetlands.
Organizational members include associations, corporations and government agencies engaged in the planning, design, construction, materials supply, professional, technical or educational aspects of the fields of professional practice represented by COPRI.
PB staff members who are working in the fields mentioned above (see individual membership) are encouraged to become COPRI members, as are those engaged in related policies or educational programs. Currently there are approximately four PB Ports & Intermodal employees who are engaged in the works of the institute and its administrative/technical committees.
All members are encouraged to participate in COPRI-sponsored technical activities and to become a member of one or more of its technical committees.
COPRI Organization
At the core of COPRI are its technical committees (see box on facing page). In addition are several administrative committees, including:
Awards
Coastal Engineering Research Council, which organizes research projects in cooperation with associated professional organizations, interprets findings of such research; and publishes the findings.
Council of Committee Chairs
Council of Past Presidents
Education
Membership
Policy
Publications.
COPRI's Governing Board manages the affairs of the institute and is responsible for its fiduciary, legal and strategic planning duties and ensuring the institute fulfills its vision and mission statements.
Membership Benefits
Attending COPRI sponsored specialty conferences provides members with the opportunity to keep abreast of the latest developments in their fields of professional practice; exchange ideas with other attendees; discuss case studies, methods, procedures, standards and techniques; share experiences and knowledge with other participants; learn about innovative solutions; and be informed of lessons learned.
COPRI sponsored continuing education courses or participating in technical workshops will sharpen members' professional skills.
COPRI's "Technical Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering" and other technical books, committee reports, conference proceedings and the Institute's quarterly newsletter "Waterways" provides members with information on the latest research and technical developments, and keep them connected to their colleagues and informed of what is happening within the COPRI.
Finally, members have the opportunity to influence national public policy, on issues and matters related to their fields of professional practice, in Congress and at federal agencies; and change the face of the industry by developing policy changes, standards and technically sound programs.
The benefits of corporate membership, which vary depending on the level of support, can include:
Free individual memberships for employees
A free subscription to the Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
A free exhibition booth at one of COPRI sponsored conferences.
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