Considerable research since the publication of the Environment Agency “Overtopping of Seawalls:  Design and Assessment Manual” (R&D Technical Report W178, 1999), the Dutch “Technical Report: Wave run-up and wave overtopping at dikes” (TAW, 2002 English edition), and the German Die Küste (EAK, 2002) has prompted the production of an updated and extended manual combining European expertise.

Published in 2007, the “Wave Overtopping of Sea Defences and Related Structures - Assessment Manual" has an author team comprising experts in the field of overtopping from several European countries.  This “European Overtopping Manual” presents the latest techniques and approved methods for establishing overtopping hazards and flooding for an extensive range of structure types.

The manual has been organised so that it can be divided into the following 7 main chapters:

1. Explains the scope of the manual, defines the types of structure, provide definitions for each of the parameters, and gives some guidance on how the results should be interpreted.
   
2. Gives a short discussion on waves and water levels in the context of overtopping.  References to more detailed explanations will be given in the text.
3. Wave overtopping processes and hazards will be described, and guidance on tolerable discharges, and personal hazard, will be given. Discussion will explain the different ways in which waves overtop and how this should be interpreted.
4. Describes the different methods available for predicting or assessing overtopping discharges.  Whilst the remaining chapters of the manual will concentrate principally on empirical methods, this chapter will discuss the use of physical modelling and numerical techniques.  This chapter will also introduce the use of the Calculation Tool, and the Appendices will give more detailed discussions of the topics covered in this chapter.
5. Embankments and Dikes:  Discusses empirical wave overtopping methods for coastal dikes and embankment seawalls.  This will include the techniques described in the Dutch (TAW) and German (EAK) overtopping manuals, in addition to the method of Owen.
6. Rubble Mound Structures:  Covers overtopping for rubble mounds and slopes, and includes new coefficients for a much wider range of armour types, but will be similar in structure to chapter 5.
7. Vertical Structures:  Overtopping at vertical and steeply battered structures will be covered in the final chapter.  Considerable research in this field has been completed since the last manual was published, and the new techniques will be included here.