Ping Wang, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
W&R Coastal Sciences and Solutions, LLC (WRCSS), Tampa, FL 33629, USA.
Phone: 813-748-5657
Email: pingwang@wrcoastalsciences.com
Webpage: https://www.wrcoastalsciences.com
Education:
Ph.D. in Geology, University of South Florida, 1995.
Dissertation: Nearshore Sediment Transport--Field Measurement and Prediction.
B.S. and M.S. in Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China, 1988, 1991.
Areas of Expertise:
Coastal resiliency, Shore protection and management, Living shoreline applications, Green infrastructure, Beach nourishment design and monitoring, Nearshore sediment transport analysis and numerical modeling, Nearshore wave and current dynamics and numerical modeling, Beach-inlet interaction and inlet management.
Employment:
08/2001-present Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Full Professor, School of Geosciences, University of South Florida.
08/2025-present Senior Scientist, W&R Coastal Sciences and Solutions, LLC.
01/1996-08/2001 Post-doctoral Research Associate, Coastal Studies Institute, Louisiana State University.
01/1997-08/2001 Visiting Research Scientist, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Coastal and Hydraulic Laboratory.
Membership in Professional Societies:
The Coastal Education and Research Foundation (CERF).
American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA).
Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association (FSBPA).
American Geophysical Union (AGU).
Professional Honors and Services:
ASBPA: Robert G. Dean Coastal Academic Award: 2019
FSBPA: Robert G. Dean Coastal Research Award: 2025
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: ASCE Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering. (2005-2009)
EDITORIAL BOARD: Journal of Coastal Research.
Co-Chair: International Conference on Coastal Sediment’27 (May 2027, Charleston); Coastal Sediments’23 (April, New Orleans); Coastal Sediment’19 (May 2019, Tampa); Coastal Sediment’15 (May 2015, San Diego); Coastal Sediment’11 (May 2011, Miami).
Funded Projects at the University of South Florida (~$7,500,000 total since 2001):
Co-PI: Collaborative Research: EAGER: Longitudinal Investigation of Two Hurricane-Generated Barrier Island Breaches in Southwest Florida. Funded by National Science Foundation.
PI: Pasco County Coastal Resilience Study. Funded by Pasco County, Florida.
PI: Community-Based Design Using Nature-Based Solutions to Meet Climate Change Challenges along Urban Hillsborough River, Tampa. Funded by National Academies/Gulf Research Program.
PI: Physical Monitoring of the Sand Key and Treasure Island/Long Key Nourishment Projects. Funded by Pinellas County, Florida.
Co-PI: Hillsborough County Vulnerability Study Update 2023. Funded by Hillsborough County, Florida.
PI: Coastal Resiliency: Palmetto Beach Living Coastline and Community Engagement. Funded by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and City of Tampa.
PI: Bathymetric Survey for the 77-Acre Piney Point Pond. Funded by Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
PI: Causes and Mitigation of Sedimentation along the Northern Side of Johns Pass Channel. Funded by Pinellas County, Florida.
PI: Numerical Modeling of Circulation Pattern within the Fort De Soto Park Bay. Funded by Pinellas County, Florida (RESTORE fund).
PI: Influences of Storm Surge on the Determination and Applications of Closure Depth. Funded by United States Coastal Research Program.
PI: RAPID: 2018 Hurricane Season: Sedimentological and Morphological Characteristics of Hurricane Michael Induced Storm Deposits in Apalachicola Bay. Funded by National Science Foundation.
PI: Investigating Beach Changes Associated with Post-nourishment Profile Equilibration on Turtle Nesting. Funded by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
PI: Topographic Survey for Four Coastal Marsh/Mangrove Sites around Tampa Bay. Funded by Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.
PI: Beach Management Plan for the City of Treasure Island. Funded by City of Treasure Island, Florida.
PI: Inlet Management Study for Pass-a-Grille Inlet and Bounces Pass, Pinellas County, Florida. Funded by Pinellas County and Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
PI: Shoreline Mapping and Bathymetry Survey Project for the Homosassa River Headspring and Mason Creek. Funded by Southwest Florida Water Management District.
PI: Inlet Management Study for John’s Pass and Blind Pass, Pinellas County, Florida. Funded by Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Co-PI: Climate Change Narrative Game Education (CHANGE). Funded by National Science Foundation.
PI: Mapping Surveys to Evaluate Storm Effects on Pinellas County Beaches. Funded by Pinellas County, Florida.
PI: Shoreline Mapping and Bathymetry Survey Project for the Rainbow River System. Funded by Southwest Florida Water Management District.
PI: Shoreline Mapping and Bathymetry Survey Project for the Bullfrog Creek System. Funded by Southwest Florida Water Management District.
PI: Shoreline Mapping and Bathymetry Survey Project for the Charlotte Harbor, Lower Peace River and Lower Myakka River System. Funded by Southwest Florida Water Management District.
PI: Morphodynamics of Nearshore Berms and Associated Tidal Inlet Processes. Funded by U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC).
PI: RAPID: Emergency Field Investigation of Oil-Beach Interaction along the Alabama and Florida Beaches Following the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Funded by National Science Foundation.
PI: Modeling Coastal Processes at John’s Pass and Blind Pass and Adjacent Beaches. Funded by Pinellas County, Florida.
PI: Modeling Medium-Term Morphology Change at Blind Pass, Florida. Funded by U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
PI: Response of the Frog Creek System to Constructed Offline Intertidal Lagoons. Funded by U.S. Geological Survey.
PI: Shoreline and Bathymetry Study at Hillsborough River, Florida. Funded by Southwest Florida Water Management District.
PI: Shoreline and Bathymetry Study at Cotte River, Florida. Funded by Southwest Florida Water Management District.
PI: Assessing Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contamination at Blind Pass, Florida. Funded by NOAA, USACE, and Pinellas County, Florida.
PI: Shoreline and Bathymetry Study at Homosassa River, Florida. Funded by Southwest Florida Water Management District.
CO-PI: Sarasota County Comprehensive Inlet Management Program Big Sarasota Pass and New Pass. Funded by Sarasota County, Florida.
PI: A Field Study on Sediment Budget and Inlet Processes at Blind Pass, Florida. Funded by U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
PI: Laboratory Study on Longshore Sediment Transport Processes at the Large-scale Sediment Transport Facility (LSTF). Funded by U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
PI: A Collaborative Study on Hydrodynamics and Sediment Processes at a Laboratory Idealized Tidal Inlet. Funded by U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
PI: Shoreline and Bathymetry Study at Charlotte Harbor, Florida. Funded by Southwest Florida Water Management District.
PI: Study of Longshore Sediment Transport Using the New Large-Scale Laboratory Facility. Funded by Louisiana Sea Grant College Program.
PI: Laboratory Study on Groin Notching. Funded by U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
Co-PI: A Continuous Monitoring Shallow Water Hydrodynamic and Meteorological Station Designed for National Park Service. Funded by National Park Service.
Consulting Projects (selected):
Wind Wave Analysis and Numerical Wave Modeling for Artificial Reef Design at Port Mahon, Delaware.
Develop Technical Approach for Shoreline Recovery and Shore Stabilization for the Placencia Peninsula, Stann Creek District, Belize.
Wind Wave Analysis and Numerical Wave Modeling at LS3 Site within Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, North Carolina.
Water-level Analysis and Numerical Wave Modeling for Artificial Reef Design at Sea Oats Beach, Islamorada, Florida.
Water-level Analysis and Numerical Wave Modeling for Artificial Reef Design at Pigeon Key, Florida.
Tampa Bay Pilots Emergency Fueling and Operating Base: Wave and Water Level Modeling and Analyses.
St. Croix (US Virgin Island) Carambola Resort Initial Assessment on Historical Hurricane and Tropical Storm Impacts, Sargassum in the Greater Area, Offshore Wave Conditions, and Trend of Shoreline Change
Langley AFB (Virginia) Wave Modeling and Shore Protection Design.
Gomez Key (Florida) Oystercatcher Habitat Expansion Project 9810.0.15: Wave Study and Shore Protection Design.
Mandarina (Mexico) Wave Modeling and Shore Protection Design.
Yucalpeten Resort Marina (Mexico)Wave Modeling and Shore Protection Design.
Sugarloaf Island (North Carolina) Shore Protection and Restoration Project.
Sarasota (Florida) Sailing Squadron Marina Protection: Wave and Water-level Study and Modeling.
Wave modeling for Max Brewer Bridge Beach and Nearshore Improvements, Florida.
Friar’s Bay (St. Kitts) Shore Improvement Design.
Cedar Key (Florida) Shore Protection Design and Wave Modeling.
Shore-Protection, Living Shoreline, and Beach Restoration Project at Ben T Davis Park, Tampa, Florida.
Environmental Impact Assessment for Sandals Montego Bay (Overwater Bungalows & Villas), Jamaica.
Wave Modeling and Shore-Protection Design for Walnut Point, Maryland.
Strategic Environmental Assessment and Carrying Capacity Assessment for Port Royal 2020 Sustainable Master Plan, Jamaica.
Raymac Cove Beach Restoration and Shore Protection Design, Jamaica.
Site Investigation at the Subject Area of Sterling Wharf Property, Jamaica.
Shore-Protection Project for the Coastal Marsh at Wanchese Marine Industrial Park, North Carolina.
Shore-Protection Project for St Mary’s Episcopal Church at Green Cove Springs, Florida.
Pleasant River Discharge Restoration and Shore Protection, Jamaica.
Moon Palace Resort Shore-Protection and Beach Nourishment Design, Jamaica.
Camp Ellis Beach (Maine) Shore Protection Alternative using WADs (Wave Attenuation Device).
Mamiti Beach Restoration and Shore Protection Design, Jamaica.
Beach Processes and Wave Modeling for the Design of Shore Protection Measure at EG Simmons Park, Tampa, Florida.
Wave modeling for Sunshine Skyway (Tampa, Florida) Shore Protection Design using WAD (Wave Attenuation Device) and Seagrass improvements.
Rhodes Hall Beach Restoration and Shore Protection Design, Jamaica.
Bengal Beach Restoration and Shore Protection Design and Wave Modeling, Jamaica.
Environmental Impact Assessment Beach License Application for Sandals Dunn’s River, Mammee Bay (Over Water Suites and Chapel), Jamaica.
Margaritaville Beach Restoration and Shore Protection Design, Mexico
Coastal Processes along the Northern Colombia Coastline and Design of Shore-Protection Projects.
Numerical Wave Modeling and Beach Restoration Design at Cartagena, Colombia.
Shore Protection and Beach Restoration at Puerto Aventuras Lots 3 and 4, Mexico.
Shore-Protection Study and Beach Restoration Design for Hard Rock, Unicon and Residence Inn, Jamaica.
Beach Processes, Restoration and Shore Protection at C3 Beach, Cancun, Mexico.
Selected Publications
Books:
Wang, P. and Tanya M Beck, 2022. Beach-Inlet Interaction and Sediment Management. Cambridge University Press, 363pp.
Davis, R.A., Elko, E., and Wang, P., 2018, Managing the Gulf Coast Using Geology and Engineering. The Geological Society of America Publications, 101pp.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Papers:
Wang, P., Kraus, N.C., and Davis, R.A., Jr., 1998. Total rate of longshore sediment transport in the surf zone: field measurements and empirical predictions. Journal of Coastal Research, 14(1): 269-283.
Wang, P., 1998. Longshore sediment flux in the water column and across the surf zone. Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal & Ocean Engineering, ASCE, 124: 108-117.
Wang, P. and Davis, R.A., Jr., 1998. A beach profile model for a barred coast – case study from Sand Key, west-central Florida. Journal of Coastal Research, 14(3): 981-991.
Wang, P. and Kraus, N.C., 1999. Horizontal water trap for measurement of aeolian sand transport. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 24: 65-70.
Wang, P. and Kraus, N.C., 1999. Longshore sediment transport rate measured by short-term impoundment. Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, ASCE 125: 118-126.
Wang, P. and Davis, R.A., 1999. Depth of closure and the equilibrium beach profile – A case study from Sand Key, West-Central Florida. Shore and Beach, 67: 33-42.
Wang, P., Smith, E.R., and Ebersole, B.A., 2002. Large-Scale Laboratory Measurements of Longshore Sediment Transport Under Spilling and Plunging Breakers. Journal of Coastal Research, 18: 118-135.
Wang, P., Ebersole, B.A., Smith, E.R., and Johnson, B.D., 2002. Temporal and spatial variations of surf-zone currents and suspended-sediment concentration. Coastal Engineering, 46: 175-211.
Wang, P., Ebersole, B.A., and Smith, E.R., 2003. Beach profile evolution under plunging and spilling breakers. Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, ASCE, 129(1): 41-46.
Wang, P. and Kraus, N.C., 2004. Laboratory investigation of groin notching. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue 33: 342-367.
Wang, P. and Kraus, N.C., 2005. Beach profile equilibrium and patterns of wave decay and energy dissipation across the surf zone elucidated in a large-scale laboratory experiment. Journal of Coastal Research, 21: 522-534.
Wang, P., Kirby, J.H., Haber, J.D., Horwitz, M.H., Knorr, P.O., and Krock, J.R., 2006. Morphological and sedimentological impacts of hurricane Ivan and immediate post-storm beach recovery along the northwestern Florida barrier-island coasts, Journal of Coastal Research, 22: 1382-1402.
Elko, N.A. and Wang, P., 2007. Immediate profile and planform evolution of a beach nourishment project with hurricane influences. Coastal Engineering, 54: 54-79.
Wang, P. and Horwitz, M.H., 2007. Erosional and Depositional Characteristics of Regional Overwash Deposits Caused by Multiple Hurricanes. Sedimentology, 54: 545-564.
Claudino-Sales, V., Wang, P. (corresponding author) and Horwitz, M.H., 2008. Factors controlling the survival of coastal dunes during multiple hurricane impacts in 2004 and 2005: Santa Rosa barrier island, Florida. Geomorphology, 95: 295-315.
Smith, E.R., Wang, P., Ebersole, B.A., and Zhang, J., 2009. Dependence of total longshore sediment transport rates on incident wave parameters and breaker type. Journal of Coastal Research, 25: 675-683.
Roberts, T.M., Wang, P., Kraus, N.C., 2010. Limits of beach and dune erosion in response to wave runup from large-scale laboratory data. Journal of Coastal Research, 26: 184-198.
Claudino-Sales, V.; Wang, P. (corresponding author), and Horwitz, M.H., 2010. Effect of Hurricane Ivan on coastal dunes of Santa Rosa Barrier Island, Florida: characterized on the basis of pre- and poststorm LIDAR surveys. Journal of Coastal Research, 26: 470-484.
Wang, P., Beck, T.M., and Roberts, T.M., 2011. Modeling regional-scale sediment transport and medium-term morphology change at a dual inlet system examined with the Coastal Modeling System (CMS): A case study at Johns Pass and Blind Pass, west-central Florida. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue 59: 49-60.
Wang, P., and Beck, T.M., 2012. Morphodynamics of an anthropogenically altered dual-inlet system: John’s Pass and Blind Pass, west-central Florida, USA. Marine Geology, 291-294: 162-175. doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2011.06.001.
Puleo, J.A., Lanckriet, T,M., and Wang, P., 2012. Near bed cross-shore velocity profiles, bed shear stress and friction on the foreshore of a microtidal beach. Coastal Engineering, 68: 6-16. doi:10.1016/j.coastaleng.2012.04.007
Roberts, T.M. and Wang, P., 2012. Four-year performance and associated controlling factors of several beach nourishment projects along three adjacent barrier islands, West-Central Florida, USA. Coastal Engineering, 70: 21-39.
Wang, P. and Roberts, T.M., 2013. Distribution of surficial and buried oil contaminants across sandy beaches along northwest Florida and Alabama coasts following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Journal of Coastal Research, 29: 144-155. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-12-00198.1
Roberts, T.M., Wang, P., Puleo, J.A., 2013. Storm-driven cyclic beach morphodynamics of a mixed sand and gravel beach along the Mid-Atlantic coast, USA. Marine Geology, 346: 403-421. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2013.08.001
Brutsche, K.E., Wang, P., Beck, T.M., Rosati, J.D., and Legault, K.R., 2014. Morphological evolution of a submerged artificial nearshore berm along a low-wave microtidal coast, Fort Myers Beach, West-central Florida, USA. Coastal Engineering, 91: 29-44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2014.04.010
Brutsche, K.E., Wang, P., Rosati, J.D., and Beck, T.M., 2015. Influence of berm elevation on the performance of beach-nearshore nourishment: a case study at Perdido Key, Florida, USA. Journal of Coastal Research, 31: 964-977, doi: 10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-14-00087.1.
Cheng, J. and Wang, P., 2015. Extracting turbulence under breaking waves in the surf zone. ASCE Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering, 141: 1-10.
Wang, P., and Beck, T.M., 2017. Determining dredge-induced turbidity and sediment plume settling within an Intracoastal Waterway System. Journal of Coastal Research, 33: 243-253, doi:10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-16-00083.1.
Cheng, J. and Wang, P., 2018. Dynamic equilibrium of sandbar position and height along a low wave energy micro-tidal coast. Continental Shelf Research, 165: 120-136.
Beck, T.M. and Wang, P., 2019. Morphodynamics of barrier-inlet systems in the context of regional sediment management, with case studies from west-central Florida, USA. Ocean and Coastal Management, 177: 31-51.
Cheng, J and Wang, P, 2019. Unusual beach changes induced by Hurricane Irma with a negative storm surge and poststorm recovery. Journal of Coastal Research, 35: 1185 – 1199, https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-19-00038.1 .
Wang, P., Adam, J.D., Cheng, J., and Vallée, M., 2020. Morphological and Sedimentological Impacts of Hurricane Michael along the Northwest Florida Coast. Journal of Coastal Research, 36: 932-950, https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-19-00179.1.
Beck, T.M., Wang, P., Li, H., and Wu, W., 2020. Sediment Bypassing Pathways between Tidal Inlets and Adjacent Beaches. Journal of Coastal Research, 36: 897-914, https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-19-00141.1 .
Wang, P. and Cheng, J., 2021. Mega-Ship Generated Tsunami: A Field Observation in Tam-pa Bay, Florida. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 9: 437, https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9040437.
Vickery, C.G., Wang, P. (corresponding author) and Cheng, J., 2022. Natural and Anthropogenic Factors Controlling Circulation at the Terminus of a Seagrass-covered Estuary, Fort DeSoto Bay, West-Central Florida. Journal of Coastal Research, 38: 681-698, https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-21-00165.1.
Royer, E.L., Wang, P. and Cheng, J., 2023. Determining depth of closure based on time-series beach profiles and empirical formulas: A case study along the Florida coast. Shore and Beach, 91: 3-22.
Wang, P., Royer, E.L., Jackson, K. and Gutierrez, S., 2024. Impacts of Hurricane Ian along the Low-Lying Southwest Florida Coast (USA) in 2022: Lessons Learned. Journal of Coastal Research, https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-24-00003.1.
Wang, P., Royer, E.L., and Gutierrez, S., 2024. Hurricane Idalia (2023) induced dune erosion along West-Central Florida barrier-island coast and post-storm restoration. Shore and Beach, 92: 16-27.
Royer, E.L., and Wang, P., 2024. Mitigating Anthropogenic Influences on Tidal Circulation: A Case Study of McKay Bay, Florida, USA. Journal of Coastal Research, 113 (SI): 148-153.
Gutierrez, S.M., Wang, P. (corresponding author), Royer, E.R., Bishop, J.E., Dabees, M.S., 2025. Long-Term Performance of Cyclic Beach Nourishment and Roles of Erosional Hotspots. Journal of Coastal Research, DOI: 10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-24-00075.1.
Peer-Reviewed Technical Reports:
Wang, P., Ebersole, B.A., and Smith, E.R., 2002. Longshore Sand Transport – Initial Results from the Large-Scale Sediment Transport Facility. ERDC/CHL CHETN-II-46, March 2002, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Hamilton, D.G., Bruce, E.A., Smith, E.R., and Wang, P., 2001. Development of A Large-Scale Laboratory Facility for Sediment Transport Research. Technical Report, ERDC/CHL TR-01-22, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 158p.
Smith, E.R., Ebersole, B.A., and Wang, P., 2004. Dependence of total longshore sediment transport rates on incident wave parameters and breaker type. ERDC/CHL CHETN-II-46, March 2002, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi
Gravens, M.B. and Wang, P., 2007. Data Report: laboratory Testing of Longshore Sand Transport by Waves and Currents; Morphology Change Behind Headland Structures. ERDC/CHL TR-07-8, August 2007, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Beck, T.M., Wang, P. and Kraus, N.C., 2009. Influences of Channel Dredging on Flow and Sedimentation Patterns at Microtidal Inlets, West-Central Florida, USA. CIRP Publications on CMS Topics: http://cirp.wes.army.mil/wiki/Publications.
Brutsche K. and Wang, P. , 2012. First Year Morphological Evolution of an Artificial Berm at Fort Myers Beach, Florida. ERDC/CHL CHETN-II-54, pp. 10.
Wang, P., Brutsche, K.E.,. Lagrone, J.W., Beck, T.M., Rosati, J.D., and Lillycrop, L.A., 2013. Performance Monitoring of a Nearshore Berm at Ft. Myers Beach, Florida: Final Report. ERDC/CHL TR-13-11, pp. 203.
Wang, P., Brutsche, K.E.,. Beck, T.M., Rosati, J.D., and Lillycrop, L.A., 2013. Initial Morphologic Evolution of Perdido Key Berm Nourishment, Florida. ERDC/CHL CHETN-IV-X, pp. 10.
Wang, P., Horwitz, M.H., and Cheng, J., 2016. Inlet Management Study for John’s Pass and Blind Pass, Pinellas County, Florida. Final Report submitted to Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Wang, P., Cheng, J., Westfall, Z., and Vallee, M., 2018. Inlet Management Study for Pass-A-Grille and Bunces Pass, Pinellas County, Florida. Final Report submitted to Florida Department of Environmental Protection.