Moderator

Shimrit Perkol-Finkel - CEO and Chief Scientist - ECOncrete Tech LTD

S1.1 - The Role of Biomimicry in Ecological Engineering of Urban Waterfronts

With nearly two-thirds of the human population concentrated around coastlines, alongside with growing threats from sea level rise and increased storminess, accelerated coastal development and changes to natural coastlines are inevitable. Over time, natural coastlines thus undergo severe changes, and in many cases are completely overtaken by ports, coastal defense measures, power plants, industrial facilities, and residential properties. These structures replace natural ecosystem like coral reefs, mangrove forests, and oyster beds, ecosystems that used to provide natural coastal protections. While coastal infrastructure such as seawalls or breakwaters add significant amounts of hard substrate that can be colonized by marine organisms, these man-made structures do not support similar species assemblages to those of natural coastal and marine habitats and are typically dominated by invasive and nuisance species. This is mainly due to design features related to steep slopes, low structural complexity, and high homogeneity, all of which are rarely found in natural habitats. To date, coastal and marine infrastructure have overwhelmingly been designed and built with little or no consideration to marine life developing on them. As a result, their ability to provide ecosystem services similar to those offered by natural habitats is severely compromised. Here we propose an alternative, environmentally sensitive approach to planning, design, and construction of concrete based coastal and marine infrastructure, combining principles of ecological engineering and biomimicry, to create more multifunctional Blue-Green Infrastructure. The approach developed by ECOncrete® includes three levels of intervention: I) material composition, II) surface roughness III) 3D designs, that through a science-based approach mimic natural substrates, textures, and biological niches as an integral part of functional concrete structures. The innovative approach yields a significant increase in biodiversity, species richness, live cover compared to standard “grey” concrete structures. Moreover, the enhanced growth of ecosystem engineers like oysters, corals and tube worm, that secrete calcitic skeletons, serve a dual function of increased structural performance due to Bioprotection, and, creation of an active carbon sink. These advantages are especially critical along urbanized coastlines, where ecosystem services are highly deteriorated, and are most needed by society on one hand, and by the local ecosystem on the other.

Speaker

Shimrit Perkol-Finkel - CEO and Chief Scientist - ECOncrete Tech LTD

S1.2 - Eco-design marine construction with a bio-mimetic approach: first experience with artificial reef in Corsica

Human activity on the coast has a major impact on the environment and on underwater biodiversity. The eco-design approach try to integrate environmental objectives into the structural design of structures that are able to fulfilling their technical functions as well as ecological function, to ensure biodiversity enhancement. It is a global and systemic approach which is initiated by the applicant at the time of the program, and which continues during the design, and then until the construction phase. We will present applied experimentation done in 2018, in request of the Corsican Environmental Office (Mediterranean French Island) to develop innovative bio-mimetic artificial reefs (BMAR) in Ricantu bay (Ajaccio city). The purpose of the submerged structures is to mimic specific habitats for target species with high economical value for fisheries. Our presentation will describe the approach followed to eco-design the BMAR to be built 1) methodology followed, 2) preliminary laboratory tests and the main resulting parameters, 3) step by step construction to create a bio-mimetic construction. The relationship between natural habitat and target species will be specifically exposed to explain our choice for a BMAR design, at three dimensions: micro (concrete), fine macro (roughness and first colonization) and large macro (fish’s habitat). The scientific monitoring, for almost 2 years, will be discussed, to criticism the three dimension. We will conclude by providing insights for a better methodology in order to design sustainable eco-designed project using a bio-mimetic (BM) approach.

Speaker

Tjasa Griessler Bulc - Full professor/Senior researcher - University of Ljubljana