Technology and nature don't always go well together, but when they do, something good almost always comes out of it. This is the case of 3D printers that help fight coastal erosion due to rising sea levels.
A team of Australian scientists from Deakin University they are testing 3D printed, biodegradable structures to protect young mangrove plants and slow the advance of the sea.
Coastal erosion: a serious headache
The main side effect of coastal erosion is that plants have more difficulty rooting on eroded coasts, further exacerbating the problem.
This is why the researchers have started a project that will take place over three years involving a large team, which will monitor the survival and growth of the mangroves. It's called “Regenerating Our Coasts”.
Mangroves and 3D printing: how the synergy works
The 3D printed structures, made of potato starch from industrial waste, are being placed at coastal locations in Port Phillip Bay and Western Port Bay. These structures slow down the flow of water and favor the accumulation of soil, especially in areas subject to coastal erosion or with difficult environmental conditions.
After creating the 3D printed structures in the Netherlands, Australian researchers insert mangrove seeds into them or place them in areas where the seeds have already been planted. The biodegradable structures will decompose over a period of time between two and ten years, giving the plants time to take root and do their job.
A sustainable (and ethical) future for our coasts
If the project is successful, coastal erosion won't be the only thing it's struggling with: these biodegradable structures could be used in many other coastal areas and act as a defense against flooding.
And they would create a great deal for research: the monitoring and the phases following installation, in fact, would be handled by local research groups.
Because when something is designed well, it's good for everyone.
