This document discusses strategies for decreasing the ecological footprint of coastal and marine infrastructures. It provides an overview of the environmental impacts of coastal development such as habitat loss, pollution, and invasive species. The strategies presented include environmental compensation, ecological engineering, and designing infrastructures to be ecologically active. Ecologically active infrastructures use texture, composition, and macro-design elements to support biological productivity while meeting construction requirements. This enhances biodiversity and ecosystem services without compromising structural integrity. The document advocates for scientists, engineers, and policymakers to collaborate on more sustainable coastal infrastructure design and enhancement.

1. Ecological Enhancement of Coastal and Marine
Infrastructures: An Overview
Shimrit Perkol-Finkel, PhD Ido Sella, MSc
August 2012
shimrit@searc-consulting.com

2. Coastal waters support the richest most divers ecosystems
naturallykim.com
Photo: Jonathan Wilker,Photo: Tim Laman
Purdue University

3. Coastal zones occupy less than 15% of Earth's land surface but they house
more than 60% of the world's population
Earth at night: Mayhew & R. Simmon (NASA/GSFC), NOAA/ NGDC, DMSP Digital Archive

4. Coastal populations and shoreline degradation
Over 22,000 km2 of European coastlines are “artificialized”

5. Natural coastlines replaced by Coastal & Marine Infrastructures
 Transportation
 Energy
 Industry
 Urbanization

6. Environmental Impacts of coastal development
Marine Pollution
• Marine sources (vessels, platforms)
• Terrestrial sources (sewage, runoff, solid waste)
• Urban marine structures as waste traps
Ashdod Port, Israel

7. Environmental Impacts of coastal development
Invasive Species
Main vectors: Impacts:
 Ballast water  Changes in species assemblages
 Biofouling  Habitat modification
 Aquaculture  Nuisance
 Pests
 Financial cost
Wiki.org
Dreissena polymorpha www.daff.gov.au Sea Grant

8. Environmental Impacts of coastal development
Habitat loss
Harlem swamp Harlem 1820 Harlem 2010
Pre settlement

9. 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

10. Strategies for 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

11. 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
Living shorelines Hybrid structures
http://www.wetlands.org Shoreline Design LLC

12. Strategies for decreasing the ecological footprint of
coastal & marine infrastructures:
> 100 km breakwaters
Sustainable management of urban > 60 km seawalls
marine structures > 40 km of jetties
(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.
Perkol-Finkel et. al., 2010
12
10
Size (cm) of juveniles
8
6
4
Natural
2
Transplanted
0
Jul. 08 Sep. 08 Oct. 08 Feb. 09

13. 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

14. Ecological Design???
Main problems with current coastal & marine infrastructures:
Design & Material:
Vertical relief
Low complexity
Homogeneity
Surface chemistry

15. Environmentally Active Infrastructures
Tropical reef environment - Red Sea
Harnessing an active jetty for enhancement of corals, filter feeders & fish

16. Environmentally Active Infrastructures
Tropical reef environment - Red Sea
Harnessing an active jetty for enhancement of corals, filter feeders & fish

17. Environmentally Active Infrastructures
Designing the Edge Harlem River, USA
Marcha Johnson, NYC Parks Department

18. 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)

19. Environmentally Active Infrastructures
Increasing biodiversity with no reduction to structural integrity

20. Biology and Concrete
 Poor substrate for biological recruitment:
 Alkalinity
 Toxicity
 Smoothness
 Commonly associated with nuisance and invasive species
Seawall with invasive zebra mussel 20 y old sinker in a coral reef environment
www.flickr.com/photos/chriss

21. The Next Step: Ecologically Active Construction Elements
Supporting biological productivity and ecological efficiency while
complying with requirements of standard marine construction
 Composition
 Surface texture
 Macro-design
img8.imageshack.us
www.stripes.com

22. Advantages of Ecologically Active Construction Elements
Enhanced biogenic build-up
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/

23. The Next Step: Ecologically Active Construction Elements
Surface texture
Coombes 2011

24. The Next Step: Ecologically Active Construction Elements
Concrete Composition
Settlement of Bugula neritina on various concrete matrices
25
20
% Settlement
15
10
5
0
M1 M2 M3 M4 Portland
P< 0.01 Cement

25. Riprap Habitats in the Med Sea
Texture, Design & Composition

26. Assessing ECOncreteTM matrices in different marine environments
Great lakes Alpenashipwrecktours.com
Mediterranean sea
Atlantic Ocean
Red sea
In collaboration with:
Google earth lostreefadventures.com

27. Assessing ECOncreteTM matrices in different marine environments
Mechanical testing - Field examination - Lab experiments

28. Assessing ECOncreteTM matrices in different marine environments

29. Making coastal infrastructures biologically and ecologically active without
compromising their original function

30. ECOncreteTM Ecological Armor Units

31. ECOncreteTM Ecological Armor Units

32. ECOncreteTM Active Seawalls

33. ECOncreteTM Riprap Habitats

35. Biologically active ECOncreteTM wall,
Eco-Tower, Tel-Aviv, Israel 2011

36. Versatility, scalability & applicability
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

37. Summary: Ecologically Active Infrastructures
 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)
Atlas of Possibility for the Future of New York SeArc & dlandStudio

38. Ecological Design???
Growing Awareness

39. Thank you!
www.searc-consulting.com
Shimrit@searc-consulting.com Ido@searc-consulting.com