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Article

Numerical Modelling of Wave–Vegetation Interaction: Embracing a Cross-Disciplinary Approach for Bridging Ecology and Engineering for Nature-Inclusive Coastal Defence Systems

1
Department of Civil Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark 60, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
2
Marine Biology Section, Biology Department, Ghent University, Campus Sterre-Building S8, Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Water 2024, 16(14), 1977; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16141977
Submission received: 17 June 2024 / Revised: 3 July 2024 / Accepted: 11 July 2024 / Published: 12 July 2024
(This article belongs to the Section Oceans and Coastal Zones)

Abstract

Coastal areas are increasingly at risk due to climate change, necessitating innovative mitigation approaches. This study explores the integration of living environments, particularly aquatic vegetation, with conventional defence systems to provide socially acceptable and nature-inclusive coastal defence systems. Through examining the published literature, this study identifies two perspectives: engineering and ecological. From an engineering perspective, wave propagation models and simulation techniques for wave–vegetation interaction are identified. Ecologically relevant coastal and marine vegetation is presented, and based on its ecological features (morphology, biomechanics, buoyancy, and variability) a novel ecological categorization framework is developed. The results challenge the notion of a strict divide between ecological and engineering approaches. Analysis of existing wave–vegetation models reveals that many engineers consider the ecological features of vegetation-induced wave attenuation studies. However, computational limitations often lead to simplifications. Furthermore, complex models, while offering detailed ecological insight, are often limited to small-scale experimental domains. Conversely, simpler models, suitable for large-scale engineering problems, may lack ecological detail. This suggests a potential future approach numerical modelling that combines high-resolution models for small areas with large-scale, implicit engineering models operating at the ecosystem scale.
Keywords: nature-inclusive; coastal defence; wave propagation; ecological services; aquatic vegetation nature-inclusive; coastal defence; wave propagation; ecological services; aquatic vegetation

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MDPI and ACS Style

El Rahi, J.; Stratigaki, V.; De Troch, M.; Troch, P. Numerical Modelling of Wave–Vegetation Interaction: Embracing a Cross-Disciplinary Approach for Bridging Ecology and Engineering for Nature-Inclusive Coastal Defence Systems. Water 2024, 16, 1977. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16141977

AMA Style

El Rahi J, Stratigaki V, De Troch M, Troch P. Numerical Modelling of Wave–Vegetation Interaction: Embracing a Cross-Disciplinary Approach for Bridging Ecology and Engineering for Nature-Inclusive Coastal Defence Systems. Water. 2024; 16(14):1977. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16141977

Chicago/Turabian Style

El Rahi, Joe, Vasiliki Stratigaki, Marleen De Troch, and Peter Troch. 2024. "Numerical Modelling of Wave–Vegetation Interaction: Embracing a Cross-Disciplinary Approach for Bridging Ecology and Engineering for Nature-Inclusive Coastal Defence Systems" Water 16, no. 14: 1977. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16141977

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