ecological enhancement of coastal and marine infrastructures

Ecological Enhancement of Coastal and Marine Infrastructures: An Overview

Shimrit Perkol-Finkel, PhD Ido Sella, MSc

August 2012

shimrit@searc-consulting.com

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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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

Thank you!

www.searc-consulting.comShimrit@searc-consulting.com Ido@searc-consulting.com