System and method for the beach nourishment of coasts

Abstract

System (1) for the beach nourishment of coasts, comprising a plurality of sediment accumulation bodies (2) made of biodegradable materials and at least partially immersed in water (A); a plurality of bags (3) filled with inert material, at least partially immersed in water (A) and made of biodegradable materials.

Description

[0001] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE BEACH NOURISHMENT OF COASTS DESCRIPTION Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a system for the beach nourishment of coasts .

[0003] In particular, the present invention concerns a system for the beach nourishment of coasts designed to counteract coastal erosion .

[0004] The present invention also relates to a method for the beach nourishment of coasts .

[0005] State of the Art

[0006] As is well known, the process of coastal erosion is a phenomenon that has been growing increasingly severe year after year .

[0007] This is due to various factors such as climate change, rising sea levels , and human activity for example, the construction of piers , ports , and other coastal structures , which alter the natural sedimentation processes and sometimes prevent the free movement of sand .

[0008] Therefore, these factors contribute to intensifying beach erosion, putting homes , tourist infrastructure, and ecosystems at risk .

[0009] To date, various systems are known to combat coastal erosion .

[0010] One type of system is identified by breakwaters or coastal groynes .

[0011] The term "breakwaters" refers to artificial structures , generally made of stones , boulders , or concrete blocks and built obliquely or parallel to the coastline , with the aim of reducing wave energy and protecting the coast from erosion .

[0012] The term " coastal groynes" refers instead to artificial structures , generally perpendicular to the shoreline, designed to promote the accumulation of sediments in specific areas .

[0013] Such groynes counteract sediment transport , causing local sedimentation near the structure itself , as defined by the groynes .

[0014] Such types of known systems represent a useful solution but are not without drawbacks .

[0015] Firstly, a drawback of these known solutions is that they are often excessively costly .

[0016] Another drawback of the known systems is that they often have a high environmental impact ( in a negative sense ) .

[0017] Another drawback is that such known systems excessively alter the coastal dynamics , affecting the large littoral solid transport and sometimes interfering even with the adjacent coastal areas .

[0018] A further drawback of the known systems is that they often have a negative visual impact on the surrounding landscape .

[0019] Object of the invention

[0020] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a system and method for coastal nourishment that can resolve the drawbacks of the state of the art mentioned above .

[0021] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for the beach nourishment of coasts that are capable of reducing environmental impact . Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for the beach nourishment of coasts that are capable of eliminating or greatly limiting the process of coastal erosion .

[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for the beach nourishment of coasts that is simple and cost-effective to install .

[0023] According to the invention, these and other objects are achieved by means of a system and method for the beach nourishment of coasts comprising the technical features described in the appended claims .

[0024] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] The technical features of the invention, in accordance with the above-mentioned objects , are clearly described in the appended claims , and its advantages will become apparent from the detailed description that follows , with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate exemplary, non-limiting embodiments thereof , wherein :

[0026] - Figure 1 shows a schematic top plan view of a system for the beach nourishment of coasts according to the present invention;

[0027] - Figure 2 shows a schematic lateral sectional view of a detail of the system of Figure 1 ;

[0028] - Figure 3 shows a schematic side elevation view of the system of Figure 1 ;

[0029] - Figure 4 shows a schematic top plan view of the system of the present invention, according to a further embodiment ; and - Figure 5 shows a schematic top plan view of yet another embodiment of the system of the present invention .

[0030] Detailed Description

[0031] With reference to the attached figures 1 , 4 , and 5 , the reference number 1 indicates a system for the beach nourishment of coasts according to the present invention, hereinafter also referred to simply as "system 1" .

[0032] With reference to the embodiments shown in the attached figures , the system 1 of the present invention comprises sediment accumulation bodies 2 .

[0033] In the embodiments illustrated in figures 1 and 4 , the system 1 includes four sediment accumulation bodies 2 , it being understood that the system 1 of the present solution may comprise any number of accumulation bodies 2 .

[0034] The accumulation bodies 2 are advantageously arranged adjacent to one another near a stretch of coastline C . Advantageously, the accumulation bodies 2 are positioned offshore, that is , they extend at a distance from the coastline C such that they do not interfere with the main littoral drift .

[0035] According to the embodiment shown in figure 1 , the accumulation bodies 2 extend from the stretch of coastline C for a length ranging between 2 meters and 30 meters .

[0036] According to the embodiment shown in figure 4 , the accumulation bodies 2 extend along a section substantially parallel to the stretch of coastline C, at a distance of between 2 meters and 30 meters from the coastline C itself .

[0037] This makes it possible to provide a barrier for suspended sediments and for bottom sediments transported near the coastline C, while avoiding interference with adjacent coastal areas .

[0038] In this way, the restoration and protection of the affected stretch of coastline C is promoted, without impacting the neighboring coastal stretches .

[0039] The accumulation bodies 2 are at least partially submerged in water A .

[0040] They are made of biodegradable materials .

[0041] The use of biodegradable materials for the construction of said accumulation bodies 2 allows for minimal impact on the surrounding environment .

[0042] In use, the sediment accumulation bodies 2 placed in the water A are gradually covered by sand sediments .

[0043] Once submerged, the sediment accumulation bodies 2 are intended to remain stably in that position, as their removal or retrieval would at least partially compromise the nourishment work carried out .

[0044] In this regard, the characteristic of being made from biodegradable material allows avoiding the dispersion of polluting substances into the surrounding environment .

[0045] Indeed, the system 1 object of the present invention naturally biodegrades over time beneath the reconstructed coastal stretch C, thereby restoring the original territory .

[0046] With reference to the attached figure 2 , each of the sediment accumulation bodies 2 comprises a casing 21 designed to contain an agglomerate M of natural materials .

[0047] Advantageously, the agglomerate M of natural materials includes matter sourced from the surrounding environment , such as sand, pebbles , or similar .

[0048] This agglomerate M of natural materials allows the body 2 to be stabilized in the water A .

[0049] Each of the bodies 2 includes a structural outer coating 22 of the casing 21 .

[0050] Advantageously, the casing 21 has a cylindrical shape . Furthermore, the casing 21 is advantageously made of plywood, wood, cardboard, or any other natural material .

[0051] The casing 21 provides structural support to the accumulation body 2 .

[0052] The external covering 22 ensures the containment of the casing 21 and prevents it from expanding due to the stress caused by wave motion .

[0053] Furthermore, the outer covering 22 allows the natural material agglomerate M to be contained even in the event of a rupture of the casing 21 , thereby ensuring the strength and durability of the accumulation bodies 2 .

[0054] In particularly effective embodiments , the structural outer covering 22 comprises a net made of one or more natural materials , selected from jute, cotton, coconut fiber, sisal, wool, or any other natural material .

[0055] Advantageously, the covering 22 seals the respective accumulation body 2 at its lower portion in contact with the seabed F . According to a first embodiment illustrated in figure 1 , the sediment accumulation bodies 2 are arranged in alignment with one another along a direction that is substantially transverse to the stretch of coast C . Advantageously, this direction is perpendicular to the coastline C .

[0056] In this embodiment , the accumulation bodies 2 substantially define a promontory projecting from the coastline C .

[0057] According to the embodiment illustrated in figure 4 , the sediment accumulation bodies 2 are arranged in alignment with one another along a direction that is substantially parallel to the stretch of coast C . In this embodiment , the accumulation bodies 2 form an island positioned near the stretch of coast C .

[0058] Advantageously, with reference to the embodiment shown in figure 5 , the accumulation bodies 2 are arranged in two or more rows .

[0059] This allows for adjusting the thickness of the barrier formed by the accumulation bodies 2 according to the strength of the wave motion acting on a specific stretch of coast C .

[0060] The system 1 , object of the present invention, includes bags 3 filled with inert material and at least partially submerged in the water A .

[0061] These bags 3 essentially define a capping arc for the sediment accumulation bodies 2 .

[0062] The bags 3 are made of biodegradable materials .

[0063] The capping arc formed by the bags 3 helps to attenuate the energy of the wave motion, thereby protecting the coastal stretch C by creating a sedimentation basin that promotes wave breaking and reduces the slope of the seabed .

[0064] Advantageously, the system 1 of the present invention is positioned within a breaker zone .

[0065] By breaker zone, it is meant the area near the shore where the wave motion has already lost its stable form and is dissipating energy turbulently .

[0066] Specifically, the propagation of the wave motion from offshore towards the coast is characterized by a velocity, known as celerity, which depends on the seabed depth, or water draft , and gravitational acceleration .

[0067] Offshore, where the water depth is high, the wave speed is not affected by the difference in height between the crest and the trough .

[0068] Approaching the coast , the decreasing water depth causes a noticeable difference in celerity between the crest (which moves over shallower seabed and thus faster) and the trough (which moves slower) .

[0069] This speed differential causes the crest to " fall" into the trough, triggering the visual phenomenon of wave breaking .

[0070] In this breaker zone, the dissipated energy creates turbulence that stirs up sediments ( sand) , generating a fluid with a "pulsating helical motion, " which forms the most active littoral solid transport current .

[0071] Essentially, this type of placement acts on the wave motion after breaking has already been triggered by the seabed, allowing for further attenuation of the wave energy (which has already decreased in this zone ) and promoting widespread sedimentation of sand and sediments .

[0072] In doing so, it is possible to promote the morphological modification of the seabed ( in the area where system 1 is installed) , allowing the deposition and sedimentation of sand and natural granular material, without obstructing the large-scale littoral transport , thus avoiding erosion of the adjacent coastal stretches .

[0073] In other words , positioning system 1 within the breaker zone allows sedimentation to be promoted using a simple and environmentally friendly system .

[0074] Advantageously, the system 1 object of the present invention, can be installed manually, with the bodies 2 filled in-situ using locally sourced materials such as sand, thereby eliminating the need for heavy machinery and complex logistical operations .

[0075] In use, once the system 1 has fulfilled its function (i . e . , permanently modified the seabed) , the portion of the cylinders 2 protruding from the newly formed beach is cut and removed .

[0076] Essentially, the system 1 , composed of cylinders 2 and bags 3 , is not a permanent structure but a temporary one, where the part emerging from the restored beach can be easily removed, and the remaining portion becomes an integral part of the environment and the beach .

[0077] Furthermore, once the system 1 has enabled the seabed to rise, the boundary of the wave breaker zone is consequently shifted further offshore . Known technologies , such as reef or groyne systems , do not allow shifting the boundary of the breaker zone .

[0078] In fact , these known reef technologies oppose the wave motion head-on, before it even reaches the breaker zone, dissipating its energy through direct impact without inducing a progressive reshaping of the seabed . As for the known technologies defined by groynes , they are designed solely to function as impermeable barriers intended to intercept and block the longshore sediment transport current moving parallel to the shoreline . This means their effectiveness is limited to the localized capture of sediments , without the ability to reshape the seabed or shift the breaker zone further offshore .

[0079] Advantageously, the bags 3 have a flexible and deformable structure .

[0080] This allows them to adapt to the newly formed seabed, following the deposition process and gradually disappearing beneath it without causing any environmental impact .

[0081] By flexible deformable structure, it is meant in particular a non-rigid behavior, specifically designed to allow the bags 3 to act as flexible containers , plastically adapting their shape under hydrodynamic stresses and the progressive load of deposited sediments .

[0082] In contrast , the known systems such as the breakwaters and groynes described in the introductory part of this description feature a rigid structure, intended to structurally withstand hydrodynamic forces . According to the embodiment shown in figure 3 , the bags 3 are fully immersed in the water A .

[0083] The partial or complete immersion of the bags 3 depends on tidal fluctuations and wave motion .

[0084] Advantageously, the system 1 according to the present invention includes anchoring means (not shown) for securing the accumulation bodies 2 to a seabed F .

[0085] Advantageously, such anchoring means comprise posts made of natural material, such as wooden posts .

[0086] The anchoring means make it possible to further stabilize the accumulation bodies 2 , preventing any unwanted displacement .

[0087] In use, the accumulation bodies 2 and the bags 3 , positioned resting on the seabed F, gradually biodegrade over time beneath the profile of the newly restored stretch of coastline C .

[0088] Also forming the subject of the present invention is a method for coastal nourishment , hereinafter also referred to simply as the "method" .

[0089] The method according to the present invention comprises a step of placing the system 1 (as described above ) within a breaker zone near a stretch of coastline .

[0090] The positioning of said system 1 makes it possible to generate a sedimentation basin .

[0091] The step of placing includes the step of positioning the accumulation bodies 2 near the stretch of coastline C, and placing the flexible deformable-structure bags

[0092] 3 .

[0093] These bags 3 are arranged so as to form a crown-shaped arc over the accumulation bodies 2 . The method according to the present invention further comprises a step of maintaining the accumulation bodies 2 and bags 3 in situ for a period of time sufficient to allow the progressive accumulation of natural sediments within the sedimentation basin .

[0094] These natural sediments are transported by currents and wave motion .

[0095] The progressive accumulation of natural sediments induces a morphological modification of the basin and the consequent restoration of a beach .

[0096] Advantageously, the method according to the present invention includes a step of cutting off the portion of the accumulation bodies 2 that emerges from the newly restored beach .

[0097] Essentially, as previously stated, once the system 1 has fulfilled its function ( i . e . , has permanently modified the seabed) , the remaining part of the cylinders 2 protruding from the restored beach is advantageously cut and removed .

[0098] The positioning of the accumulation bodies 2 and the bags 3 is advantageously carried out manually .

[0099] This is made possible by the structural simplicity of the system 1 , which comprises easily manipulable elements .

[0100] Known systems and methods , by contrast , require the installation of heavy and rigid structures that necessarily involve the use of complex machinery .

[0101] Advantageously, the bodies 2 are at least partially filled on-site using natural materials .

[0102] Filling the bodies 2 with natural materials collected on-site ensures that , after cutting the emerging portion, the remaining part embedded within the newly- restored beach contributes to the restoration itself without causing any environmental impact .

[0103] The system and method for the beach nourishment of coasts according to the present invention make it possible to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and achieve significant advantages .

[0104] A first advantage of the system and method for the beach nourishment of coasts according to the present invention lies in enabling an optimized restoration of eroded coastal stretches .

[0105] This is made possible by the combined action of the accumulation bodies 2 and the crowning arch defined by the bags 3 , which together reduce the impact of wave motion and promote localized sediment accumulation near the coastal area to be protected .

[0106] Another advantage of the system and method for the beach nourishment of coasts according to the present invention is the provision of a system that is simple and economical to install .

[0107] Furthermore, this system requires no maintenance, making it easy to use .

[0108] Another advantage of the system and method for the beach nourishment of coasts according to the present invention is that it ensures a solution with an appropriate visual impact .

[0109] In the event that at least a portion of the accumulation bodies 2 protrudes beyond the profile of the reconstructed beach, the emerging part will be promptly cut and removed . This is ensured by the use of natural materials that blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment .

[0110] Another advantage of the system and method for the beach nourishment of coasts according to the present invention is the significant reduction or elimination of environmental impact .

[0111] This is guaranteed by the use of components made entirely from biodegradable materials .

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system (1) for the beach nourishment of coasts, comprising :- a plurality of sediment accumulation bodies (2), said bodies (2) of said plurality being arranged adjacent to each other near a stretch of coast (C) and at least partially immersed in water (A) , said accumulation bodies (2) being made of biodegradable materials ;- a plurality of bags (3) filled with inert material at least partially immersed in water (A) and designed to define a crowning arc of said plurality of accumulation bodies (2) , said bags (3) being made of biodegradable materials, said bags (3) being made of biodegradable materials and having a flexible, deformable structure.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that said accumulation bodies (2) of said plurality comprise a casing (21) designed to contain an agglomerate (M) of natural materials and an external structural covering (22) of said casing (21) .

3. The system according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said casing (21) has a cylindrical shape.

4. The system according to claim 2, characterised in that said structural outer coating (22) comprises a net .

5. The system according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said net is made of one or more natural materials chosen from jute, cotton, coir fiber, sisal, wool, or other types of natural material .

6. The system according to any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that said accumulation bodies (2 ) of said plurality are arranged aligned with each other along a direction substantially transversal to said stretch of coast (C) .7 . The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , characterised in that said accumulation bodies ( 2 ) of said plurality are arranged aligned with each other along a direction substantially parallel to said stretch of coast (C) .

8. The system according to any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that said bags ( 3 ) of said plurality are completely immersed in water (A) .

9. The system according to any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that it comprises means for anchoring said plurality of accumulation bodies ( 2 ) to a seabed (F ) .10 . The system according to any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that said accumulation bodies11. A method for the beach nourishment of coasts comprising the steps of:- placing a system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 within a breakwater zone near a stretch of coast (C) so as to generate a sedimentation basin, said placing step including the steps of :- positioning a plurality of accumulation bodies (2) near the stretch of coast (C) ;- positioning a plurality of bags (3) with a flexible, deformable structure;- maintaining said accumulation bodies (2) and bags (3) in situ for a sufficient period to allow progressive accumulation of natural sediments, transported by currents and wave motion, within said sedimentation basin, thereby inducing a morphological change in said basin and the consequent restoration of the beach.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterised in that it comprises a step of cutting a portion of said accumulation bodies (2) protruding from said newly restored beach.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 11 and 12, characterised in that said step of positioning said bodies (2) and said bags (3) is carried out manually.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims from 11 to 13, characterized in that said positioning step includes a step of at least partially filling said bodies (2) on site with natural materials.

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