Massive Underwater Sand Bags Successfully Restore Coastal Beach
The innovative coastal protection project, initiated against sea erosion in the state of Kerala, India, has achieved success beyond expectations. The massive sand-filled tubes (geotube) placed under the sea at Poonthura beach have effectively rebuilt the eroding beach by breaking the destructive power of the waves.
The report prepared by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in India has showcased the success of these massive structures that have been submerged as breakwaters on the seafloor.
Experts examining satellite imagery from 2022 to 2026 have identified a noticeable expansion along the coastline.
This technology, known as Geotube, consists of massive tubes made from special fabrics and filled with a sand slurry. These tubes, when sunk underwater, form a submerged barrier that dampens wave energy, facilitating the accumulation of sand on the shore.
According to the report, starting from 2024, the noticeable accumulation of sand has increased the beach width in Poonthura by an average of 37 meters. The collection of sediments brought by the waves in a protected area has naturally reclaimed the coastline that was on the verge of disappearing.
The project, which has been allocated a budget of 200 million rupees (20 crores) by the state government through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), also stands out with its engineering details:
The circumference of the tubes, which vary in length from 12 to 20 meters, reaches up to 15 meters.
When filled with sand, the weight of each tube ranges from 200 to 250 tons.
They were installed in five separate segments of 100 meters each along a total line of 700 meters, with 50-meter gaps in between.
Following the tangible success achieved in Poonthura, the Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC) is planning to extend this environmentally-friendly and effective method to other high-risk coastal regions of the state.
Sheikh Pareed, the General Manager of KSCADC, stated that they have been examining the model studies conducted in collaboration with NIOT and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM). The successful project is aimed to be implemented at Shangumugham, Valiyathura, Kollam, and Cherai beaches in the upcoming period.
Keşfet ile ziyaret ettiğin tüm kategorileri tek akışta gör!
Test
Gündem
Magazin
Video
Send Comment