The escalating threats posed by global climate change are unmistakably evident around the world, placing countless communities at risk. Among the various challenges presented, the rising sea levels and the increased incidence of extreme weather events stand as important and dangerous risks. These changes have rendered multiple coastal zones vulnerable, exposing them to heightened risks of flooding and erosion, thereby endangering the local communities and the integrity of natural ecosystems.
In the face of these challenges, geosynthetics have proven themselves a cornerstone in the development of resilient and enduring solutions aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on coastal regions. The application of geosynthetics, particularly geotextiles, has a big impact on coastal defense mechanisms. These materials improve the structural integrity and longevity of coastal protection infrastructure, acting as a shield against the forces of nature. By integrating the robust protection offered by geotextiles with traditional defense elements such as rip-rap or armour stone, a synergistic effect is achieved, resulting in coastal defense systems of high resilience.
Geotextiles and coastal protection
Geotextiles can be used in a variety of coastal protection applications, such as beach nourishment, dune stabilisation and seawall construction. For example, in beach nourishment projects, geotextiles are often used to help hold the new sand in place, preventing it from being washed away by waves and currents. In dune stabilisation projects, geotextiles are used to help hold the dune in place, protecting the beach and coastal properties from storm surge and wave damage.
