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EROSION

Currently, coastal erosion is becoming increasingly severe, with the average erosion rate rising each year. Over the past decade, this worsening situation has been driven by multiple factors. These include the 2004 tsunami disaster, which caused land subsidence below the original sea level, as well as the melting of polar ice caps, which adds significant amounts of water to the interconnected global oceans and seas. The Importance of Coastal Erosion Prevention Preventing coastal erosion is crucial, as it has significant impacts on both the marine environment and human safety. Effective erosion prevention helps ensure that land is not lost to severe coastal erosion, preserves the marine ecosystem, and maintains the habitat for aquatic life. Additionally, it prevents land subsidence, which can have further environmental and economic consequences. Coastal protection also enhances safety for tourists and seafarers, as erosion can pose dangers to people living or traveling in coastal areas. By reducing the risks associated with marine accidents, effective erosion prevention measures contribute to sustainable economic activities, particularly for coastal communities reliant on fisheries and agriculture.

Environmental and Economic Benefits Mitigating coastal erosion helps maintain marine ecosystem balance, which is essential for marine resource management and environmental conservation. This, in turn, supports the growth of marine biodiversity, benefiting the fishing industry and other marine-related economic sectors. Furthermore, erosion control plays a vital role in protecting key maritime economic areas in Thailand, including marine tourism, trade, and coastal infrastructure. Roads, buildings, and essential infrastructure along the shoreline can be safeguarded from damage, reducing the need for costly repairs and minimizing financial losses.

CONCEPT

The concept behind the design of artificial mangrove structures dates back to 2003 when the company experimented with using synthetic wood to create artificial bamboo for oyster farming in the sea.

The success of this project led to continuous development, refinement, and improvement, ultimately resulting in its practical application today.

This progress has been made possible through collaboration with government agencies and various academic institutions.

D E V E L O P M E N T
The design and development of artificial mangroves integrate materials engineering knowledge to replicate the characteristics of natural mangrove trees.

This is achieved by using environmentally friendly engineering materials to substitute natural resources, serving the function of dissipating wave energy

that causes coastal erosion and slowing the retreat of shorelines.

Mangrove trees play a vital role in marine resources and environmental conservation.

Mangrove forests, in particular, serve as crucial habitats and nurseries for a wide variety of marine plants and animals, contributing to high biodiversity.

Another essential function of mangroves is their complex root system, which acts as a natural mesh to protect the shoreline from being eroded by tidal waves.

However, natural mangrove forests are rapidly declining due to various factors, including human activities such as deforestation and intensified wave action,

which uproots mangrove trees and weakens their root systems, rendering them ineffective in protecting the shoreline.

The development of artificial mangroves aims to mitigate and prevent erosion across mudflats and sandy beaches, acting as a compensatory and restorative measure to sustain and rehabilitate coastal ecosystems for the long term.

HISTORY

2003 - 2005 Research grant project funded by Kasetsart University (05011897-0003) on
“The Development of Wood-Plastic Composite Technology for Commercial Applications.”

2009 Technology commercialization with funding support from the National Innovation Agency (NIA).
Project: “C-Aoss: Coastal Erosion Prevention for Mangrove Areas Using Wood-Plastic Composite” (P11-EV-52-02-007).

2012 Construction of a coastal erosion prevention barrier at Khlong Dan, Samut Prakan Province (J.1865/2555/003),
in collaboration with Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited.

2015 Mathematical modeling research on water circulation in the Gulf of Thailand,
integrating artificial mangrove innovations for coastal erosion prevention and mangrove forest restoration (CPM-57-035X),
in collaboration with NSTDA (National Science and Technology Development Agency).

2020 "Mangrove Conservation and Restoration Project in Samut Prakan Province," Contract No. 15/2020, in collaboration with
the Samut Prakan Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO).

2021 Continuation of the "Mangrove Conservation and Restoration Project in Samut Prakan Province,
" Contract No. 19/2021, in collaboration with the Samut Prakan PAO.

2022 "Utilizing Artificial Mangrove Innovations to Mitigate Coastal Erosion in Sandy Beach Areas, Reducing Ecosystem Loss and
Promoting Local Economic Growth," as part of the Quickwin Project under the BCG (Bio-Circular-Green Economy)
Budget 2022, supported by NSTDA.