COMPARISON OF GEOSYNTHETIC MATERIALS AS SUBSTRATES ON COASTAL STRUCTURES – GOLD COAST (AUSTRALIA) AND ARABIAN GULF

Bobbie Corbett, Leslie Angus Jackson, Timothy Evans, Simon Restall

Abstract


Coastal structures should be designed to minimize the risks to beach users and avoid negative impacts on the marine environment. Past experience with sand-filled geotextile containers in the marine environment (i.e. submerged) shows that they provide a permeable substrate that supports a diverse range of marine growth which differs from that found on conventional “hard” structures. To quantify the potential benefits, comparative trials between different geosynthetics at different depths have been undertaken in both in the hot high salinity waters of the Arabian Gulf [UAE] and in the sub-tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean [Gold Coast, Australia]. Results indicated that high strength non-woven type geosynthetics are most suitable for structures which are intended to provide ecological / recreational benefits as they provide higher diversity and less hard growths which are not as user-friendly.

Keywords


geosynthetic; geotextile; substrate; ecology; marine growth; recreation; sand-filled geotextile containers

References


Edwards, R. 2003. An investigation into the biodiversity of a geotextile artificial reef, Narrowneck, Gold Coast, Qld. University of New England Honours Thesis

Jackson, L.A. 2010. Design and Construction of low crested reef breakwaters using sand-filled geotextile containers. Geosynthetics and Modern Materials in Coastal Protection and Related Applications. IAHR

Jackson, L.A., Restall, S., Corbett, B.B. and Reichelt, R.E. 2005. Monitoring of Geosynthetics in Coastal Structures, Proceedings of 1st International Conference in Coastal Zone Management and Engineering in Middle East

Jackson, L.A., Reichelt, R.E., Restall, S., Corbett, B., Tomlinson, R. and McGrath, J. 2004. Marine Ecosystem Enhancement on a Geotextile Coastal Protection Reef – Narrowneck Reef Case Study. Proceedings of the 29th International Conference on Coastal Engineering. ASCE


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