Geldhof, R.

Huygens, M.

Islam, R.

Lemey, E.

Mascart, T.

Nevejan, N.

Stechele, B.

Open Marine Archive

117 
Poster presentation Competition poster 
What are the boundary conditions to implement nature-inspired coastal 
defence solutions? A Coastbusters blueprint comparison between Europe 
and Bay of Bengal  
Islam Royhanur 1, Mascart Thibaud 2, Stechele Brecht 3, Lemey Emile 4, Nevejan Nancy 3, Geldhof 
Ruben 4, Huygens Marc 2 
1  International Master of Science in Marine Biological Resources (IMBRSea), Applied Marine 
Ecology and Conservation, Ghent University, Marine Biology Research group Krijgslaan 281/S8 
9000 Ghent, Belgium 
 E-mail: md.royhanur.islam@imbrsea.eu 
2  Dredging, Environmental & Marine Engineering NV (DEME), Haven 1025 - Scheldedijk 30, 2070 
Zwijndrecht, Belgium 
3  Universiteit Gent: Laboratorium voor Aquacultuur en Artemia Reference Center (UGent-ARC), 
UGent BW13, Coupure Links 653, Blok F, 9000 Gent, Belgium 
4  Jan De Nul, Tragel 60, 9308 Aalst, Belgium 
 
Ecological engineering uses biobuilders, natural processes and materials to resolve 
environmental challenges by restoring ecosystems and creating opportunities for 
nature.  Incorporating nature in engineering design results in resilience and adaptability. New 
ecosystem services are created benefiting coastal defence, shoreline stabilization, biodiversity 
and provision of breeding and nursery habitats, but also potential food supply or recreational 
activities. The ongoing industrial research Coastbusters project aims to unravel the required 
boundary conditions necessary to facilitate reef building to bio-stabilize natural accretion of 
sand and reinforce the foreshore against coastal erosion. 
 
The specific hydrodynamic, biological and chemical features of such biogenic reef system and 
the surrounding area should be identified correctly. Hence, adequate site of interest can be 
selected to deploy structures inducing biogenic reefs. For this study, two broad coastal regions 
are selected as potential application field: temperate Europe and tropical Bay of Bengal. A 
comparative study between them will generate a set of boundary parameters and basic design 
conditions necessary to evaluate potentials of the concept at any coastline worldwide. Several 
case-study sites will be selected on the basis of their typifying conditions and need for erosion 
protection. The results will take into account the site-specific boundary conditions, but also the 
reef biobuilder species-specific habitat constraints. 
 
The outcomes of the project work will provide the scientific communities with a set of 
measurable tools to predict locations where artificial biogenic reef could be of use as 
alternative nature based coastal protection scheme. Moreover, a blueprint will be rolled out to 
reach out to policy makers to choose a more sustainable source of marine ecosystem services 
as part of local coastal zone management in developed and developing countries. 
 
Keywords: Coastbusters; Ecological engineering; Nature Inspired Design; Coastal erosion; 
Blueprint; Biogenic reef; Europe; Bay of Bengal 
  


What are the boundary conditions to implement nature-inspired coastal defence solutions? A Coastbusters blueprint comparison between Europe and Bay of Bengal

http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/324978.pdf

What are the boundary conditions to implement nature-inspired coastal defence solutions? A Coastbusters blueprint comparison between Europe and Bay of Bengal

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