ECOncrete ®
While coastal zones occupy less than 15% of Earth's land surface, they are inhabited by nearly two thirds of the human population, making coastal development and urbanized seascapes inevitable. Marine infrastructures, such as coastal defence structures, marinas, and ports, are mainly composed of concrete, which is known as a poor substrate for biological recruitment. This is one of the main reasons why coastal development is considered the prime cause for habitat loss, reduced biodiversity, and damaged ecosystem services.
ECOncrete® presents an innovative yet simple solution, making coastal and marine infrastructures biologically and ecologically active without compromising their original function.
By manipulating concrete infrastructures in three levels: concrete composition, surface texture and macro-design,ECOncrete® can elevate their ability to provide valuable ecosystem services such as nursing grounds, hubs for filter feeding organisms, and shallow water habitats. In addition, such ecological designs increase the operational life span and stability of marine infrastructures by encouraging biogenic build-up that protects them from damages associated with aggressive marine environments. ECOncrete® can reshape coastal and marine infrastructures worldwide and help bridge development and sustainability.
For more information about ECOncrete® see:
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