Design, construction and monitoring of ecofriendly revetments for coastal protection / Shervin Motamedi
Cutting of mangroves along the Malaysian coastlines has exposed these areas to tidal inundation and wave action. These areas have experienced severe erosion. Dikes have been constructed across the eroding coastlines to preserve these low-lying lands from flooding. Although these structures are of...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Published: |
2016
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| Online Access: | http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/6735/4/shervin.pdf http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/6735/ |
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| Summary: | Cutting of mangroves along the Malaysian coastlines has exposed these areas to tidal inundation
and wave action. These areas have experienced severe erosion. Dikes have been
constructed across the eroding coastlines to preserve these low-lying lands from flooding.
Although these structures are often successful as rectification measures, they have
negative impacts on the environment. It is essential to develop novel coastal protection
methods that better integrate with the natural environment.
The primary objective of this study was to propose innovative eco-friendly revetments
for coastal protection. Based on the empirical methods, this study introduces the
Double-layer and LEco revetments. Laboratory experiments and numerical models were
used to verify the performance of the developed structures. A pilot project was carried
out in a representative eroding site at the muddy coast of the Carey Island, Malaysia.
This study introduced an integrated coastal rehabilitation program. A series of mangrove
plantation works were established to rehabilitate the area towards a long-term trajectory
restoration. Further, two indigenous species of coastal flora were planted on the revetments
to include more green elements in the systems.
A series of experiments evaluated the efficiency of the developed revetments. The
innovative and sustainable LEco armoring unit (KD = 20) had a negligible displacement
(< 7.8±0.1 mm), when used on the LEco revetment of q = 53°. Numerical study under
various loading conditions was carried out for the developed revetments. Performance of
the systems was evaluated to be safe based on the factors of safety against the high exit
gradient (> 3), uplift pressure (> 1.5), and sliding (> 1.3).
The study site was monitored for changes in topography and physical changes. Construction
of the revetments was successful for establishing a state of equilibrium for the
sediment deposition. This finding is important because the increase in sediment burial depth has a negative impact on mangrove rehabilitation works. Characterization of the
near-surface soil stratum indicated that the site has a high buffer of silt and clay content
(60-70%).
This study carried out a series of mangrove rehabilitation works at two zones within
the study site. Zone A was protected behind a detached breakwater and zone B was
beyond the shelter of the structure. Measurements showed that six months after the beginning
of the replanting works, the average mortality rate of the replanted mangroves for
zone A (5.1±0.1 %) and B (45.8±0.1 %) decreased to 0.8±0.1 % and 12.3±0.1 %,
respectively. Plantation of the coastal flora species exhibited a negligible mortality rate,
when planted on the deck of the revetments. These findings suggest that the rehabilitation
works were successful.
In conclusion, the proposed integrated coastal rehabilitation program was efficient
in providing a calm area to shelter the replanted mangroves. The revetments facilitated
the growth of coastal vegetation by establishing an equilibrium state. The site is representative
of the majority of areas along the coastlines of the West Malaysian Peninsular.
Therefore, the findings can be a gear towards mitigating coastal erosion and mangrove
degradation problems at similar sites. |
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