A faculty member at the Marine Sciences Center at the University of Basra, Wissam Razak Matash, published a joint research paper with a group of researchers titled

“Geohazards and coastal dynamics: a geo-engineering assessment of the southern Iraqi coast (Ras al-Bisha zone)”

in the international journal Oceanologia, a reputable journal ranked in the first quartile (Q1) in the Scopus database, with an impact factor of 2.3, and published by the Polish Academy of Sciences – Institute of Ocean Sciences, which focuses on marine and ocean sciences, coastal dynamics, and geological and engineering hazards in coastal environments.

The study addressed the assessment of geological and engineering risks along the southern Iraqi coast, specifically the area between the Shatt al-Arab estuary and the eastern breakwater of the Grand Faw Port, by developing an advanced geotechnical framework to study the stability of coastal sediments under the influence of semi-diurnal tides.

The study relied on direct field measurements of the unconfined shear strength of the sediments, in addition to hydrological data on water current velocities and tidal heights, and a Dual Factor of Safety methodology was applied to assess sediment stability during both high and low tide conditions separately. The results led to the creation of spatial risk maps classifying areas as stable, critical, and unstable.

The study’s findings are of direct importance in supporting coastal planning, risk management, and the protection of coastal infrastructure, particularly in light of the hydrodynamic changes associated with the construction of engineering projects.

This scientific achievement underscores the role of the Marine Sciences Center at the University of Basra in supporting rigorous scientific research and contributing to the study of coastal and environmental issues of national and international importance.