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

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.