Kristen Splinter

Associate Professor Kristen Splinter is an academic at the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), affiliated with the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Water Research Laboratory (WRL). She holds a Ph.D. in Geological Oceanography from Oregon State University (2009), an M.Sc. in Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering from the University of Florida (2004), and a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Queen's University (2002). Her research addresses coastal dynamics, including shoreline modeling, erosion/recovery processes, and remote sensing applications.

Her work integrates field observations, numerical modeling, and machine learning to study:

• Storm-driven coastal erosion and multi-decadal shoreline change
• Dune stability under wave forcing and sediment moisture dynamics
• Satellite-derived shoreline mapping using SAR-optical fusion and LiDAR
• Climate impacts (e.g., ENSO) on Pacific coastlines

Recent publications demonstrate a focus on scalable predictive models, machine learning hybrids (e.g., mixture-of-experts frameworks), and validation of shoreline algorithms against global datasets. Her articles frequently combine coastal physics with data science to improve erosion forecasting and early-warning systems.

She co-leads the #WRLCoastal research group, supervising PhDs and postdocs. She chairs UNSW's Gender Equity Working Group and co-founded the international #Coast2Coast seminar series. Editorial roles include Senior Editor for Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures and Associate Editor for JGR-Earth Surface.

Laboratory/fieldwork involves wave tank experiments (e.g., dune erosion mechanisms), iPhone LiDAR validation, and collaboration on Australia's national storm hazard early-warning framework. Current projects explore AI-driven shoreline modeling and climate-resilient coastal management strategies.