The most cost-effective way to approach a coastal engineering problem is to first establish a thorough understanding of the dynamic processes that have caused the problem. Developing this level of understanding of those processes is necessary for the development of effective design criteria to solve the problem. H&M has a strong technical background in the specialized field of coastal engineering, both from an academic perspective and in terms of practical applied experience including data collection, design, permitting, cost estimating, and construction management and observation. This broad level of experience enables H&M professionals to accurately diagnose the causes of coastal engineering challenges, and to develop and implement solutions that not only effectively solve difficult coastal problems but also work well within natural coastal ecosystems.