Federal Waves Workshop Agenda.pdf (175.2 KB)
U.S. Federal Wave Modeling & Observation Colleagues,
BLUF: You are invited to attend a Federal Waves Workshop, taking place July 28–29, 2026, College Park, MD (virtual options will be available). This federal-only event is focused on developing modern and sustainable Federal agency strategies for U.S. wave prediction and observation capabilities and to respond to recent funding challenges. Day 1 will focus on creating a 5–10-year strategic roadmap for next-generation wave modeling, while Day 2 will address the long-term needs, governance, funding, and sustainability of U.S. wave buoy networks.
To participate, please register for the workshop and take a short survey by COB 16 July 2026 using the following link: Federal Waves Workshop Registration Please forward this invite to any federal colleagues you think would benefit from this workshop. An initial proposed agenda is attached.
Please direct questions to Dr. Ali Abdolali (ali.abdolali@erdc.dren.mil), Dr. Kate Brodie (katherine.l.brodie@erdc.dren.mil), and Ms. Jessie Straub (Jessamin.A.Straub@usace.army.mil).
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Federal Waves Workshops – 28-29 July, College Park, MD
This workshop marks an opportunity for federal coastal stakeholders to come together to discuss modernization of our national wave prediction and observation capabilities, building on the foundational 2009 plan. Over two days, we will address the dual priorities of developing a strategic roadmap for next-generation wave models and establishing a sustainable future for U.S. wave observations. The first day will focus on advancing phase-averaged models by leveraging new high-performance computing and observational data. The second day will concentrate on forging a resilient interagency framework for the U.S. wave buoy network to ensure its long-term governance and funding. Our collective goal is to create a unified strategy that supports critical maritime operations and defense, provides foundational data for U.S. coastal research and engineering advancements, and enhances U.S. coastal resilience for the coming decade. While prior workshops on these topics have included external participants, these workshops will include Federal participants only, so we can openly discuss future agency needs and strategies.
The 2-Day workshop will be hosted on July 28-29 at Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland (ESSIC/UMD), located at 5825 University Research Court, College Park, Maryland 20740. Participation in both days is not required, and virtual options will be available, though in-person attendance is encouraged particularly for those in the area.
Day 1 Objective: The workshop will serve as the catalyst for modernizing our core wave prediction capabilities. The primary outcome will be the publication of a 5–10-year strategic roadmap to inform USACE Research and Development (R&D) investments in next-generation wave modeling infrastructure and capabilities, HPC and GPU-accelerated computing, multi-scale integration, and seamless Earth System coupling. This roadmap will ensure continued engineering and operational superiority in the maritime and coastal domains. To do this successfully, the workshop will not only gather spectral wave modeling experts but will explicitly integrate the voices of phase-resolved wave modeling teams as downstream users of phase-averaged wave models, as well as scientists and practitioners who utilize these wave models within broader integrated Earth systems.
Day 2 Objective: The primary purpose of this workshop is to bring together federal partners to evaluate the future of cooperative U.S. wave buoy networks, including the nearshore wave bout network operated by the Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP), and establish a shared vision for their governance, funding, and long-term sustainability. Discussions will also consider broader wave observation data needs and opportunities. The workshop will focus on determining whether the buoy network should be managed as an operational federal service or continue as a collaborative research partnership, while identifying opportunities to build a more resilient, mission-driven interagency framework and funding structure, in response to funding pressures in the recent years. We will also solidify these goals through a planned update to the 2009 Federal Waves Plan.