Reducing Soil Erosion with Mangroves

Coastal erosion removes the soil that supports roads, bridge piers, and retaining walls, leading to structural distress and failure. This project developed synthetic composite mangroves — engineered to mimic the wave-buffering root systems of real mangroves — as a nature-based solution for protecting coastal transportation infrastructure. Lab testing evaluated how different root system designs reduce wave velocity and energy. Results were incorporated into design methods and coastal infrastructure software, with findings shared through national conferences, classroom curricula, and K-12 outreach.