XBeach — The Complete Guide: Free Modelling of Storm Impact, Dune Erosion and Overwash
XBeach is an open-source model, developed under the lead of Deltares, for coastal processes during a storm. Where other models describe average changes over years, XBeach is built for the bad day: a single extreme event in which high waves and a raised water level attack a dune, a beach or an embankment.
XBeach
Deltares
Storm impact on the coast — overwash, dune erosion and barrier breaching in a single extreme event.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Dune erosion — retreat and slumping of the dune front over the course of the storm.
- Overwash and flooding — water flowing over the sand ridge into the hinterland.
- Breaching — the formation of a breach in a barrier.
- Long waves — infragravity waves, the main driver of storm flooding.
- Several modes — a fast mode that represents wave groups by their envelope, and a non-hydrostatic mode that resolves individual waves.
Who it suits
Coastal consultants, authorities and researchers who need to assess storm damage, compare beach nourishment or embankment alternatives, or set a setback line. Input is text and grid files, so it is convenient to prepare them with Python or MATLAB scripts.
Related tools
For long-term shoreline change — Delft3D. For waves from deep water to the coast, as model input — SWAN. For waves in harbours and over structures — SWASH.
Delft3D
Deltares
Coastal and marine engineering — currents, waves, sediment transport and shoreline morphology.
Get it from the vendorSWAN
Delft University of Technology
Nearshore wave model for shallow water — essential input for jetty and breakwater design.
Get it from the vendorSWASH
Delft University of Technology
Non-hydrostatic coastal flow model — waves in harbours, overtopping of structures and estuary currents.
Get it from the vendor
TELEMAC-MASCARET
EDF / Consortium
Hydrodynamic system for rivers and coasts on unstructured meshes — flow, waves, sediment and quality.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
XBeach is the accepted free tool for assessing storm impact on sandy coasts, and it complements long-term models well.