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Ecological Enhancement of Coastal and Marine Infrastructures: An Overview
Shimrit Perkol-Finkel, PhD Ido Sella, MSc
August 2012
Coastal waters support the richest most divers ecosystems
Photo: Jonathan Wilker, Purdue University Photo: Tim Laman naturallykim.com
Earth at night: Mayhew & R. Simmon (NASA/GSFC), NOAA/ NGDC, DMSP Digital Archive
Coastal zones occupy less than 15% of Earth's land surface but they house more than 60% of the world's population
Over 22,000 km2 of European coastlines are “artificialized”
Coastal populations and shoreline degradation
Natural coastlines replaced by Coastal & Marine Infrastructures
Transportation Energy Industry Urbanization
Marine Pollution• Marine sources (vessels, platforms)• Terrestrial sources (sewage, runoff, solid waste)• Urban marine structures as waste traps
Ashdod Port, Israel
Environmental Impacts of coastal development
Sea Grantwww.daff.gov.au
Invasive Species
Environmental Impacts of coastal development
Main vectors:
Ballast water
Biofouling
Aquaculture
Impacts: Changes in species assemblages Habitat modification Nuisance Pests Financial cost
Wiki.org
Dreissena polymorpha
Environmental Impacts of coastal development
Habitat loss
Harlem swampPre settlement
Harlem 1820 Harlem 2010
Problem:
Coastal infrastructures create severe stress on natural ecosystems
Habitat loss Reduced biodiversity Invasive species
Coastal Challenge:
Bridging Development and Sustainability
Solution:
Decreasing the ecological footprint of
coastal & marine infrastructures
Environmental Compensation:
A governmental management tool aimed at compensating for anthropogenic damage to an environmental resource or service
Applied in several countries (US, Germany, NZ, Brazil)
Policies differ from country to country, e.g.;
Monetary compensation – donating >0.5 % of project cost to environmental NGOs
Service/Resource compensation (Ecological currency) Restore/rehabilitate habitats instead of the one damaged/lost
https://www.soils.org/membership/compensation-survey
Strategies for decreasing the ecological footprint of coastal & marine infrastructures:
Ecological Engineering:Combining science, design, and engineering for creating sustainable ecosystems that integrate human society with its natural environment for the benefit of both (Mitsch 96)
Advantages: Coastal defense
Ecosystem services
Creation of natural habitats
Accessibility
Hybrid structures
Shoreline Design LLChttp://www.wetlands.org
Strategies for decreasing the ecological footprint of coastal & marine infrastructures:
Living shorelines
Sustainable management of urban marine structures (MarUrbe EU – FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF-219818)
Using infrastructures as a scaffold for enhancement of species with conservation value
Canopy forming algae Cystoseira spp.
> 100 km breakwaters> 60 km seawalls> 40 km of jetties
Strategies for decreasing the ecological footprint of coastal & marine infrastructures:
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Transplanted
Perkol-Finkel et. al., 2010
Urban Marine Environments - Cities do not end at the waterline…
Urban marine environments are an integral part of urban nature
BUT…
Coastal and marine infrastructures do not function as natural habitats
Ecological Design??? Main problems with current coastal & marine infrastructures:
Design & Material:
Vertical relief
Low complexity
Homogeneity
Surface chemistry
Tropical reef environment - Red Sea
Harnessing an active jetty for enhancement of corals, filter feeders & fish
Environmentally Active Infrastructures
Tropical reef environment - Red Sea
Harnessing an active jetty for enhancement of corals, filter feeders & fish
Environmentally Active Infrastructures
Designing the Edge Harlem River, USA Marcha Johnson, NYC Parks Department
Environmentally Active Infrastructures
Seattle Waterfront Jason Toft & JC Field Operations
“A mosaic of sloped surfaces and textures integrated into seawall designs may provide benefits to the largest range of algae and invertebrates, increasing taxa richness, and food web resilience” (Goff, 2010)
Environmentally Active Infrastructures
Increasing biodiversity with no reduction to structural integrity
Environmentally Active Infrastructures
Poor substrate for biological recruitment: Alkalinity Toxicity Smoothness
Commonly associated with nuisance and invasive species
Biology and Concrete
20 y old sinker in a coral reef environmentSeawall with invasive zebra mussel
www.flickr.com/photos/chriss
Composition Surface texture Macro-design
The Next Step: Ecologically Active Construction Elements
www.stripes.com
Supporting biological productivity and ecological efficiency while complying with requirements of standard marine construction
img8.imageshack.us
Enhanced biogenic build-up
Advantages of Ecologically Active Construction Elements
Structural advantages: Bioprotection• Strength and durability• Reduced corrosion • Absorption of wave energy• Reduce maintenance
Biological advantages:• Biological niches • Ecosystem services• Water quality (filter feeders)• Reduce ratio between NIS/native species• Esthetics
exeter.ac.uk/bioprotection/
Surface texture
The Next Step: Ecologically Active Construction Elements
Coombes 2011
Settlement of Bugula neritina on various concrete matrices
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Concrete Composition
The Next Step: Ecologically Active Construction Elements
Riprap Habitats in the Med Sea
Texture, Design & Composition
In collaboration with:
Alpenashipwrecktours.com
lostreefadventures.comGoogle earth
Atlantic Ocean
Mediterranean sea
Red sea
Great lakes
Assessing ECOncreteTM matrices in different marine environments
Mechanical testing - Field examination - Lab experiments
Assessing ECOncreteTM matrices in different marine environments
Assessing ECOncreteTM matrices in different marine environments
Making coastal infrastructures biologically and ecologically active without compromising their original function
ECOncreteTM Ecological Armor Units
ECOncreteTM Ecological Armor Units
ECOncreteTM Active Seawalls
ECOncreteTM Riprap Habitats
Biologically active ECOncreteTM wall, Eco-Tower, Tel-Aviv, Israel 2011
Any infrastructure both new and existing can be enhanced
Transportation Industry Urbanization Tourism
Modular pre-cast units
Applicable world-wide especially in light of: Global warming Sea level rise Increased storminess
Versatility, scalability & applicability
Atlas of Possibility for the Future of New York SeArc & dlandStudio
Scientists, engineers, landscape architects and policy makers need to work together from conception to construction and monitoring
Enhancement of existing infrastructures using “add-ons” Proper design of new infrastructures: Material, Texture, Complexity
Further research: from material to biology Promote legislation (“LEED” in the sea)
Summary: Ecologically Active Infrastructures
Ecological Design??? Growing Awareness
