Eco-Engineering Initiative at Global Ports

Posted 1 November by Carol Brighton

With major metro areas built around ports across the globe, coastal cities share common concerns. The World Harbour Project (WHP) was formed by the Sydney Institute of Marine Science to foster collaboration between scientists on shared issues relating to the blue urban environment, including water quality and loss of biodiversity.

Scientist Rochelle Seitz of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has joined the WHP's world-wide network of scientists investigating how to enhance the built marine environment and bring back native biodiversity lost to urbanization. Researchers representing 15 institutions are involved in the Bivalve Restoration Project. According to Seitz, all the scientists are replicating the same year long experiments examining how ecologically engineered structures introduced into waterways function and enhance ecosystems.

Using identical substrate manufactured by Reef Design Lab of Melbourne, Australia, coastal researchers are deploying the specially formulated patterned tiles. Complex, low pH, fiber reinforced tiles arrived at VIMS over the summer and have been installed along bulkheads near the campus. "The tiles are mounted in the sweet spot of the intertidal zone, where there's a higher chance for species recruitment," explains Seitz. The over arching goal of the study is to determine the effectiveness of the substrate in different environments in order to improve new and replacement structures going into harbors and waterways. She notes that the tile studies also serve as a test bed for retrofitting existing structures.

Coastal Development Invades Blue Space

This research is particularly important as significant coastal development is already encroaching upon the blue environment. In some major port cities, up to 80% of waterways have been transformed from their natural state. Here in the Chesapeake Bay region, coastal armoring occurs along about 11% of the entire Bay although much higher rates are evident around the Elizabeth River watershed in Norfolk and Lynnhaven River in Virginia Beach (see image below). Similar to US demographics, half the world's population is located in close proximity to the coast. And migration to major cities along coasts is accelerating.

With industrial, commercial and residential demands for property, pressure in already densely developed areas is forcing movement into the blue environment. On top of urban expansion, sea level is rising. To accommodate growing populations and protect valuable real estate, shoreline armoring and aquatic infrastructure is likewise expanding. Substrate that support marine life are needed to protect ecosystems and the critical services they provide. Like the vegetated "green infrastructure" movement being developed upon city rooftops, walls and streets, blue infrastructure provides many human benefits including improved air and water quality, carbon sequestration and storm protection.

The team behind ECOncrete is also collaborating with the WHP scientists and their technology is included in SCAPE team's, winning submission for the "Rebuild by Design" competition to flood-proof the NYC harbor. According to company founder, Ido Sella, their concrete composites are completely compliant with marine performance specifications in structure and function. In addition, he suggests that the biogenic growth on their concrete matrixes actually improve the material. The company website states that the colonization of organisms "acts as a biological glue that strengthens the structure and adds to its stability and longevity."