Marcel van Gent
Dr. Marcel R.A. van Gent is an expert in the field of coastal engineering, more in particular in coastal structures and wave dynamics. His experience is based on research, consultancy and educational activities. Dr. Marcel R.A. van Gent published more than 100 international scientific papers on hydraulic structures, wave modelling and dune erosion.
Since 1991 Dr M.R.A. van Gent participates in various research projects, including projects for the European Union, for the Dutch Government, and in co-operation with Universities, Consultancy firms, and Contractors. Scientific publications were presented at international conferences and in international scientific journals, proceedings and books. Dr Van Gent is associate-editor of the well-known scientific journal “Coastal Engineering”, keynote speaker at conferences, member of scientific committees for conferences, and frequently being asked by television and radio to comment on topics in coastal engineering. He was leading the present version of the guidelines on physical processes and design tools in the well-known Rock Manual: The use of Rock in Hydraulic Engineering.
At Deltares Dr Van Gent is head of the department ‘Coastal Structures & Waves’ which is a group of more than 30 scientists, consultants and assistants for performing physical model tests in wave flumes and wave basins. The group develops numerical wave models, performs laboratory measurements, and provides consultancy services to a wide variety of Clients. Dr. Van Gent is frequently being consulted for international expert opinions on hydraulic structures.
Working experience
| 2000 - Present | Deltares | Head of department |
| 2003 - 2007 | Delft Hydraulics | Principal researcher Hydraulic Engineering |
| 1997 - 2005 | Delft Hydraulics | R&D-manager Marine, Coastal & Industrial Infra |
| 1995 | Delft Hydraulics | Posted for a project at Ballast Nedam |
| 1995 | Delft Hydraulics | Posted for a project at Rijkswaterstaat-RIZA |
| 1991 - 1995 | Delft University of Technology | Research Engineer & Lexturer |
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Hydraulic testing of Sea defences of Pluit City
Indonesia, 2015
Project manager
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Physical model testing of a breakwater
United Kingdom, 2014
Project manager
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Hydraulic model studies breakwater on the island of Boa Vista.
Cabo Verde, 2012
Project manager
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3D physical modelling and design optimisation El Dikheila Port.
Egypt, 2010
Project manager
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Physical model studies (small-scale and large-scale) for the Maasvlakte 2 extension of the Port of Rotterdam.
The Netherlands, 2007 - 2011
Project manager
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Langosteira, Gijon, Caucedo and Tanger-Med during breakwater construction works (risk analysis).
Spain, 2005 - 2010
Site inspection expert
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Dune revetments (large scale physical modelling) and Dune erosion project (large scale physical modelling and safety-assessment guidelines).
The Netherlands, 2005 - 2007
Project manager
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Wave boundary conditions for Suriname and Commewijne River dikes and Wave boundary conditions for Coronie Seadike.
Suriname, 2005
Project manager
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Rehabilitation breakwater in Port of Poti.
Georgia, 2004
Project manager
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Rock Manual, Chapter leader ‘Physical processes and design tools’.
Europe, 2003 - 2005
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Wave boundary conditions for the Dutch coast
The Netherlands, 2003
Chairman of commission for expert opinions
Report presented to Dutch Parliament. -
PIANC; Design guidelines for Berm Breakwaters;
1998 - 2001
The Dutch-member of the PIANC-working group on Berm Breakwaters.
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Delft Hydraulics’ projectmanager European MAST project PROVERBS
Europe, 1997-2004
Physical and numerical studies of wave interaction with vertical structures, MAST project OPTICREST; physical and numerical studies of wave interaction with rubble mound breakwaters and dikes, and CLASH; Crest level assessment of Coastal Structures by full-scale monitoring, neural network prediction and hazard analysis on permissible wave overtopping.
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Wave climate-study, conceptual design study and physical model investigations on damaged breakwater at Carboneras, Spain.
Spain, 1997-1998
Project-leader
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Numerical studies on wave penetration and harbour resonances
Malaysia, 1997
Bintulu Port LNG3 jetty and extension works
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3-D model testing focused on wave forces including wave impacts.
St. Maarten, 1997
Wave loading on the deck of the St. Maarten jetty
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Kapuknaga Land Development Project
Indonesia, 1996
Stability testing of seaward slope, together with pressure measurements underneath a road halfway along the slope.
Project-leader Hydraulic model testing of Sea defence
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Deep learning video analysis as measurement technique in physical models
2020
Den Bieman, J.P., M.P. de Ridder, M.R.A. van Gent (2020), Deep learning video analysis as measurement technique in physical models, Coastal Engineering, 158 -
The influence of a berm and roughness on the wave overtopping at dikes
2020
Chen. W., M.R.A. van Gent, J.J. Warmink, S.J.M.H. Hulscher (2020), The influence of a berm and roughness on the wave overtopping at dikes, Coastal Engineering, 156 -
On the stability of rock armored rubble mound structures
2020
Etemad-Shahidi, A., M. Bali, M.R.A. van Gent (2020), On the stability of rock armored rubble mound structures, Coastal Engineering, 158, -
Climate adaptation of coastal structures
Van Gent, M.R.A. (2019) International Short Course/Conference on Applied Coastal Research Engineering, Geology, Ecology & Management 9th – 11th September 2019 – Bari, Italy
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Influence of oblique wave attack on wave overtopping and wave forces on rubble mound breakwater crest walls
Van Gent, M.R.A., and I.M. van der Werf (2019)
Elsevier, Coastal Engineering, 151, 78-96 -
Statistical analysis of the stability of rock slopes
Van Gent, M.R.A., E. de Almeida and B. Hofland (2019)
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Effects of storm duration and oblique wave attack on open filters underneath rock armoured slopes
Van Gent, M.R.A. and G. Wolters (2018)
Coastal Engineering, Elsevier, Vol.135 55-65 -
Coastal structures with open filters under wave loading
Van Gent, M.R.A. (2016)
Keynote at Coastlab 2016, Proc. Coastlab 2016, Ottawa -
Recent developments in physical modelling of coastal structures, including the new Delta Flume
Van Gent, M.R.A. (2015)
Keynote at Applied Coastal Research (SCACR), Florence -
Wave propagation into complex coastal systems and the role of nonlinear interactions
Groeneweg, J, M. van Gent, J. van Nieuwkoop, Y. Toledo (2015)
Journal of Waterways, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, ASCE
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Application of Cubes in a single layer, Proc. 6th SCACR conference on applied coastal research
2013
Van Gent, M.R.A. and L. Luís (2013), Application of Cubes in a single layer, Proc. 6th SCACR conference on applied coastal research, Lisbon.
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Rock stability of rubble mound breakwaters with a berm
2013
Van Gent, M.R.A. (2013), Rock stability of rubble mound breakwaters with a berm, Coastal Engineering, Vol.78, pp. 35-45, Elsevier.
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Wave overtopping and rubble mound stability under combined loading of waves and current
2010
Van Gent, M.R.A., I. van der Werf and S. Eslami Arab (2010), Wave overtopping and rubble mound stability under combined loading of waves and current, Proc. Arabian Coast 2010, Muscat.
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Stability of breakwater roundheads during construction
2010
Van Gent, M.R.A. and I. van der Werf (2010), Stability of breakwater roundheads during construction, Proc. ICCE 2010, Shanghai.
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Large-scale dune erosion tests to study the influence of wave periods
2008
Van Gent, M.R.A., J.S.M. van Thiel de Vries, E.M. Coeveld, J.H. de Vroeg and J. van de Graaff (2008), Large-scale dune erosion tests to study the influence of wave periods, Elsevier, Coastal Engineering, Vol.55, pp.1041-1051.
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Analysis of dune erosion processes in large-scale flume experiment
2008
Van Thiel de Vries, J.S.M., M.R.A. van Gent, D.J.R. Walstra, A.J.H.M. Reniers (2008), Analysis of dune erosion processes in large-scale flume experiments, Elsevier, Coastal Engineering, Vol.55, pp.1028-1040.
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Neural network modelling of wave overtopping at coastal structures
2007
Van Gent, M.R.A., H.F.P. van den Boogaard, B. Pozueta and J.R. Medina (2007), Neural network modelling of wave overtopping at coastal structures, Elsevier, Coastal Engineering, Vol.54, pp. 586-593.
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On the stability of rock slopes
2004
Van Gent, M.R.A. (2004), On the stability of rock slopes, Springer, Nato Science series IV/53, Keynote speech, NATO Workshop on Environmentally friendly coastal structures, Varna.
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Wave overtopping at dike
2002
Van Gent, M.R.A. (2002), Wave overtopping at dikes, World Scientific, Proc. ICCE 2002, Cardiff, Vol.2. pp.2203-2215.
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Wave run-up on dikes with shallow foreshores
2001
Van Gent, M.R.A. (2001), Wave run-up on dikes with shallow foreshores, ASCE, Journal of Waterways, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, Vol.127, No 5, pp.254-262, September/October 2001 issue.
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Rubble mound breakwaters: Single armour layers and high-density units
2001
Van Gent, M.R.A., K. d’Angremond and R. Triemstra (2001), Rubble mound breakwaters: Single armour layers and high-density units, Int. Conf. on Coastlines, Structures and Breakwaters, London.
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Wave run-up on dikes with shallow foreshores
2000
Van Gent, M.R.A. (2000), Wave run-up on dikes with shallow foreshores, Proc. ICCE 2000, ASCE, Sydney, Australia, Vol.3, pp.2030-2043.
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Wave interaction with Berm breakwaters
1995
Van Gent, M.R.A. (1995), Wave interaction with Berm breakwaters, J. of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, Vol.121, no.5, pp.229-238, ASCE, New York.
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Porous flow though rubble mound material
1995
Van Gent, M.R.A. (1995), Porous flow though rubble mound material, J. of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, Vol.121, no.3, pp.176-181, ASCE, New York. -
Wave interaction with permeable coastal structures
1995
Van Gent, M.R.A. (1995), Wave interaction with permeable coastal structures, Ph.D.-thesis, Delft University of Technology, ISBN 90-407-1182-8, Delft University Press, Delft. -
The modelling of wave action on and in coastal structures
1994
Van Gent, M.R.A. (1994), The modelling of wave action on and in coastal structures, Coastal Engineering, Vol.22 (3-4), pp.311-339, Elsevier, Amsterdam.