Abstract
This chapter describes the steps taken in determining the role that physical processes including waves, winds, currents, and tides may have played in an event that is under litigation. It breaks these up into four sections divided along a timeline that positively correlates to commitment to the case and in the knowledge of the circumstances involved. An initial overview of an incident usually involves reviewing available documentation provided by the attorney with whom the initial conversation took place. Official reports that document the time and location of the event are particularly useful. Hydrodynamic conditions initial assessment. The chapter discusses the steps required to implement a thorough modeling study. The first being to select the models of interest based on the location and the expected relative importance of wind, waves, currents, and tides. The second step is to configure the model including the topography to be used.