Page 28 - CRCCE0523

Special Feature continued

Rendering showing what Wahoo Bay, a sunken park planned for Hillsboro Inlet near Pompano Beach, might look like when built. The project will feature SEAHIVE technology
from the University of Miami.

manufactured using sustainable concrete mixtures and non- and green technologies under development. We are excited
corrosive reinforcement.” This kind of structure lies below the to collaborate with the local communities on SEAHIVE projects
waterline allowing water to flow through hollow hexagonal and beyond.”
concrete units, which lowers storm surge energy. The top Neighboring cities such as Pompano Beach’s Wahoo Bay
can be filled with soil to grow coastal vegetation such as Educational Marine Park and North Bay Village in Miami
mangroves, providing even more protection from storm surge Dade are currently working with Dr. Landolf and his team as
as well as improving the marine environment.
part of their cities’ green engineering alternative program.
Dr. Landolf added: “There is a great need for sustainable and Dr. Keith Van de Riet’s company, Mangrove Reef Walls,
efficient solutions for shoreline protection and SEAHIVE is a emerged from a research project focused on living seawalls.
solution in our portfolio, but there are also many other ideas
“My company, (which has a number of active pilot projects
here in South Florida), is working on saltwater and freshwater
Rendering of SEAHIVE installation at Wahoo Bay including the modular concrete living walls and panels to create habitat, improve water
structures and mangroves to be planted on them.
quality and dissipate wave energy, as well as enhance the
appearance of constructed shorelines,” says Dr. Keith. “We
have multiple ways to install them. They can be precast
panels attached to an existing seawall, or cast in-place
over an existing seawall, or installed integrally with a new
seawall.” These seawall panels mimic form and function of red
mangrove tree roots and oyster reefs that occur naturally in
Florida and are made from marine-friendly concrete, creating
habitat niches for juvenile crabs, snails, fish, and others to
escape predators.
“A single oyster can filter between 20-50 gallons of water per
day, but during the 20th Century, oysters in U.S. coastal waters
declined by nearly 90% - and up to 99% percent in the Fort
Lauderdale area,” added Dr. Keith. “A constructed oyster reef

26

5/9/23 10:56 AM
CRCCE 0523.indd 26
CRCCE 0523.indd 26 5/9/23 10:56 AM