To date, coastal and marine infrastructure have been designed and built with little or no consideration to marine life developing on them. Learn about innovative approaches to planning and retrofitting coastal and marine infrastructure using ecologically sensitive design and construction technologies that enhance their ability to provide valuable ecosystem services, while also elevating their structural integrity and longevity. Examples will include a coastal defense project and sea wall from the Mediterranean Sea, development of "Living Breakwaters" as part of the Rebuild by Design initiative, and the ecological enhancement project at the Brooklyn Bridge Park waterfront.
Learning Outcomes:
As coastal urbanization does not end at the water line, learn what key environmental issues are related to the design of coastal shore and marine infrastructure, and how they impact natural resource conservation, the design of environmental systems and the management of marine ecosystems.
Discuss a new definition for “urban marine environments,” as a first step towards applying the term “urban ecology” to the marine realm.
Use case studies from both temperate and tropical environments to present new approaches for sustainable management and design aspects of urban edge marine structural systems.
Discuss innovative technologies for increasing the biological productivity and ecological value of coastal and marine infrastructure, such as seawalls, piers and marinas, by combining wetlands/marine science and ecology with principles of site design and engineering, including methods, technology and applications.
