Can a textured embankment help Florida fight Rising Waters?

Morningside Park, Miami’s beloved neighbourhood park, quickly pilots an innovative approach to coastal resilience, taking in views of Biscayne Bay.

BioCap tiles, a 3D printed modular system designed to support marine life and reduce the impact on waves along city embankments, will be installed in the existing seawall in spring 2025. BioCap represents improved biodiversity by optimizing coastal adaptation and performance.

Developed by a team of architects and marine biologists at Florida International University, the unique textured prototype tiles are designed to restore ecological balance along the coastline, while also testing new approaches to help cities such as Miami.

The project received funding from the National Science Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Ecological Costs

Seawall has long served as a major defense against coastal erosion and storm surges. Typically made up of concrete, ranging from 6 to 10 feet tall, it is built along the coastline, with waves eroding the land and preventing flooding in nearby urban areas.

But they often come at ecological costs. Seawalls can destroy the dynamics of natural coastlines and wipe out the complex habitat zones that marine life depends on.

Marine life is important in maintaining coastal water quality by filtering excess nutrients, contaminants and suspended particles. Single adult oysters can filter 20-50 gallons of water daily to remove solids that burn nitrogen, phosphorus, and otherwise harmful algae flowers. These flowers deplete oxygen levels and damage marine ecosystems.

The organisms that feed on filters are also cloudy water caused by turbidity and particles. Lower water turbidity means more light can penetrate, which benefits sea grasses that require sunlight for photosynthesis. These sea grasses convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and energy-rich sugars while providing essential food and habitat for a wide variety of marine species.

Swirl shape

Unlike the flat, lifeless surfaces of typical concrete sea walls, each biocap tile is designed with shaded grooves, gaps and pockets that hold small water. These textures mimic the state of natural coastlines and create small homes for barnacles, oysters, sponges, and other marine organisms that filter and improve water quality.

The swirling surface pattern of the tile increases the overall surface area and increases the space for colonization. Shady recesses are intended to help regulate temperatures by providing a cooler, more stable microenvironment. This heat buffer can support marine life that faces more frequent thermal events driven by rising water temperatures and climate change.

Another potential benefit of tiles is to reduce the impact of waves.

When waves hit a natural coastline, their energy is gradually absorbed by irregular surfaces, tidal pools and vegetation. In contrast, when waves strike vertical concrete embankments, energy is reflected by water rather than absorbed. This wave reflection – the bounce of wave energy – can amplify the action of the wave, increase erosion at the base of the wall, and create more dangerous conditions during the storm.

The textured surface of the BioCap tile is designed to diffuse vibrational energy by mimicking the natural dissipation found on unobstructed coastlines.

Biocap’s designs take clues from nature. The shape of the tile is based on the interaction of water with different surfaces at low tide. Concave tiles that bend inward and convex tiles that bend outward are installed at different levels along the embankment. The goal is to move the waves away from the seawall, reduce direct effects, and minimize erosion and turbulence around the wall foundation.

Measuring success

After installing the BioCap tiles, we plan to evaluate how redesign of the Seawall can increase biodiversity, improve water quality and reduce wave energy. The pilot phase over the last two years will help us assess the long-term value of ecologically designed infrastructure.

To assess biodiversity, underwater cameras are used to capture time-lapse images of marine life that anchor the tile surface. These observations help to record species diversity and habitat use over time.

To assess water quality, we have developed a specialized prototype tile with sensors that can measure acidity, dissolved oxygen levels, salinity, turbidity and temperature in real time. This data provides insight into how tiles affect local water conditions.

Finally, mount the pressure sensors on both the BioCap tile and the adjacent traditional Seawall sections to measure wave attenuation and wave force reduction. This comparison allows us to quantify differences in wave energy across different tidal conditions and storm events.

As coastal cities face the dual challenges of increasing threats due to climate change and environmental degradation, the BioCap project offers to be an example of resilient, nature-based solutions that benefit both humans and the environment.

Next year, we will look with hope in hopes of new biocap tiles beginning to welcome marine life and a glimpse into how nature will reclaim and thrive along the city’s coastline.

Sara Pezeshk is a postdoctoral researcher in architecture at Florida International University. Shahin Vassigh is a professor of architecture at Florida International University.