WELCOME

We warmly welcome you to the website of MARIDIV, the 4th edition of a conference series related to Marine and River Dune Dynamics.

The French Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOM) has piloted the series after its initiation in 1998 during a meeting of the North Sea Hydrographic Commission. Following the successes of Lille (France), Twente (the Netherlands) and Leeds (UK), this conference will be held in the medieval city of Bruges (Belgium), on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 April 2013, with a field trip on Wednesday 17 April.

Since its initiation the conference has combined expertise from a variety of disciplines including geology, engineering, hydrography and biology, with results derived from observations, modelling and experiments.

The central theme of this edition is
Integrated Data-Modelling Approaches and Societal Relevance

Discussions are encouraged for better integration of field data from bedforms with numerical model outputs and laboratory experiments. Data–model comparisons are critical in testing the capabilities and sensitivities of numerical models and improve model performances. In addition, interaction with end-users is important to establish and maintain the societal relevance of bedform dynamics. We face new challenges in seabed management as seabed utilization is increasing and good environmental status needs safeguarding. For better practice in seabed observation, modelling and exploitation, there is a growing need for new technologies, strategies and standardized methodology.

The conference is open to all professionals and stakeholders dealing with bedform dynamics and will give access to cutting edge science and real-life examples. Networking opportunities are provided with scientists, practitioners, industry, policy advisors and managers from all over the world.