2025 Structural Engineering Fellowship
Reef Resilience: Designing Modular Solutions for Coastal Protection

Water is the key ingredient to all life—or so we believe—as we search the galaxies for evidence of life. Here on Earth, humans and water have a complicated relationship. Everyone can appreciate the natural beauty of the ocean, whole desert cities are fueled by diverted water, and entire countries are satiated by fresh-water-grown produce. Yet, as a result of our masterful manipulation of water, we have created innumerable challenges for ourselves that require sustainable solutions for both the Earth and our humanity, which depend on it.

From a structural engineering perspective, one of the most quantifiable tensions is the issue of coastline erosion. Approximately 3.2 billion people—or ~40% of the world’s population—live within 100 km of a coast and are, thus, threatened by coastal erosion. [1] Since 1880, the global average sea level has risen 8–9 inches. [2] Twenty-four percent of Earth’s sandy beaches are eroding, a coastline distance of almost 50,000 miles. [3] In the United States, coastal erosion accounts for roughly $500 million per year in coastal property loss. [4]

Coastal areas attract growing populations for various reasons, but instead of being incentivized to protect against erosion, human activity has contributed to the destruction of one of the most effective natural shoreline defenses: coral reefs. Between 2009 and 2018, fourteen percent of the world’s coral reefs were lost, which is more than the amount currently living on Australia’s famous barrier reef. [5] The structure of coral reefs acts similarly to submerged breakwaters by reducing wave energy by an average of 97%. [6] The reduction in wave energy lessens the intensity of storms and floods before hitting coastal properties and vulnerable communities. [7] The coral structures also trap and stabilize sediment, which fundamentally shores up the reef and the coastline. [8] Within the reef, marine plant and animal life filter pollutants and sequester carbon, leading to more structural growth within the cyclical ecosystem. [9] Beyond environmental and coastal benefits, reefs are estimated to generate approximately $2.7 trillion per year worldwide, including $36 billion alone in coral reef tourism. [10]

Though there are many developed methods to address coastal erosion, including but not limited to seawalls, beach nourishment, and breakwaters, none of these engineered solutions is an adequate substitute for the multivalent attributes of a natural coral reef. Furthermore, the current coastal erosion infrastructure is obstructive to attractive natural landscapes, reducing economic income in those areas. Thus, the issues to be solved are:

1. how can we restore coral reefs?
2. how can they be restored in ways that do not further contribute to their ultimate destruction?
3. how can coral reef restoration be designed to coexist with ongoing human occupation of the coastlines?

To see successful coastline protection through coral reef restoration, the interconnectivity of the functional geometry, visual design, materials use, and ecosystems’ cyclical nature must be considered.

As a civil engineering student with an emphasis in architecture and eight years of scuba diving experience, I have witnessed firsthand the striking parallels between the human-built environment and the natural underwater world. While I admire the ingenuity of engineered structures, I see the ocean as a master architect, one that designs ecosystems to be self-sustaining and inherently multipurpose. Coral reefs serve as living infrastructure that simultaneously protects coastlines and their marine life. By studying these natural systems, we can reimagine structural solutions that not only address one or two issues at a time but propose solutions that see a system holistically.

I have selected seven innovative and modular structures split into three categories.

• Wave-Attenuation: Success is measured by the effectiveness of mitigating erosion through an underwater structure near the coastline while also making an effort to regrow coral.
• Ecological Restoration: Success is measured by the ability to restore coral reefs in damaged areas while also integrating with its location.
• Underwater Attraction: Success is measured by its ability to attract eco-tourists while also raising awareness about marine conservation.

Each structure will also be analyzed on its materials, visual geometries, and adaptability to similar locations based on construction feasibility and scalability. There is an opportunity to explore how a coral reef can be more “visible” above the waterline so that a constant awareness would lead to a desire to conserve this important resource.

After researching, visiting, and engaging with each project (via scuba diving) at the seven selected sites worldwide, I will produce an interactive ArcGIS StoryMap complemented by 3D-printed digital prototypes of each structure’s geometry. The written descriptions will analyze digital design techniques, fabrication methods, material choices, and the machines or systems used in production.

This research will explicitly explore geometric strategies for coastal structures, assessing their hydrodynamic performance and ecological integration. Additionally, it will investigate how AI-driven design tools can optimize structures that operate at the water’s edge. Ultimately, key success factors will be synthesized into a comprehensive 3D-printed module, further analyzed for material durability and geometric effectiveness in meeting above- and below-water goals.

Notes

[1] Robert J. Nicholls, Poh Poh Wong, Virginia Burkett, Jorge Codignotto, John Hay, Roger McLean, Sachooda Ragoonaden, and Colin D. Woodroffe, “Coastal systems and low-lying areas” in, M.L. Parry, O.F. Canziani, J.P. Palutikof, P.J. van der Linden, and C.E. Hanson (Eds.), Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Cambridge, UK, and New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2007), 315–356.

[2] Rebecca Lindsey, “Climate Change: Global Sea Level,” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, August 22, 2023.

[3] Jessica Merzdorf, “Study of the world’s beaches shows threats to protected areas,” NASA Science Editorial Team, July 18, 2018.

[4] “Coastal Erosion,” US Climate Resilience Toolkit, 2017.

[5] “The world’s corals are bleaching. Here’s why and what it means for the ocean’s future,” UN Environment Programme, June 6, 2024.

[6] Filippo Ferrario, Michael W. Beck, Curt D. Storlazzi, Fiorenza Micheli, Christine C. Shepard, and Laura Airoldi, “The effectiveness of coral reefs for coastal hazard risk reduction and adaptation,” Nature Communications 5 (2014): 3794.

[7] Kristie L. Ebi, Jennifer Vanos, Janew W. Baldwin, Jesse W. Bell, David M. Hondula, Nicole A. Errett, Katie Hayes, Colleen E. Reid, Shubhayu Saha, June Spector, and Peter Berry, “Extreme weather and climate change: Population health and health system implications,” Annual Review of Public Health 42(1) (2021): 293–315.

[8] “How do coral reefs protect lives and property?,” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, last updated June 16, 2024.

[9] Nathaniel L. Bindoff, William W.L. Cheung, and James G. Kairo (Coordinating lead authors), “Changing Ocean, Marine Ecosystems, and Dependent Communities—Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate,” Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, eds. H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, V. Masson-Delmotte, P. Zhai, M. Tignor, E. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Nicolai, A. Okem, J. Petzold, B. Rama, N.M. Weyer (Cambridge, UK and New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2019), 447–587.

[10] Mark Spalding, Lauretta Burke, Spencer A. Wood, Joscelyne Ashpole, James Hutchinson, and Philine zu Ermgassen, “Mapping the global value and distribution of coral reef tourism,” ScienceDirect 82 (2017): 104–113.

Australia and Malaysia

United States