The monitoring of existing coastal protection work and comparing the actual performance with the predicted one is one of the methods for developing coastal engineering processes. A comprehensible example, which clearly demonstrates the value of this monitoring process, could be found in the coastal protection works of El Agami resort area, Egypt. A group of seven detached breakwaters were constructed in front of the study area aiming to improve the beach condition with consideration for swimming capability. This is in addition to a temporary harbor to facilitate execution of the breakwaters. Deposition of seagrass and an undesirable temporary harbor are part of the coastal area problems.

The implicit sediment transport two-dimension (ImSedTran-2D) numerical model, prototype data during the period from October 2002 to October 2003, and the empirical design relationships were used to study the environmental impact assessment of the breakwaters. Accordingly, a decision was made to eliminate the temporary harbor.

The study area was observed to be quite stable, even with the detached breakwaters. This could be attributed to the orientation of the shoreline and its offshore submerged ridge, which extends parallel to the shoreline. Removing the harbor improves the ecosystem of the zone just behind the western breakwater by clearing out and stopping the deposition of the seagrass in this area with its negative effect on beach condition. The study area can be considered an ideal case because the empirical relationships, the prototype data, and the numerical model give more or less the same results.