Mangrove inspired structures for erosion mitigation

Abstract

Systems and methods of coastal erosion protection are disclosed, the systems including at least one cylindrical member, wherein the at least one cylindrical member has a predetermined porosity and wherein the at least one cylindrical member has a predetermined submergence level in coastal water. The methods include identifying an area in need of coastal erosion protection; determining a strength of at least one erosion force upon the area; determining a coastal erosion risk level; positioning at least one cylindrical member in coastal water at a predetermined proximity to the area in need of coastal erosion protection; and securing the at least one cylindrical member to a sediment floor of the coastal water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for mitigating coastal erosion, the system comprising at least one cylindrical member, wherein the at least one cylindrical member has a predetermined porosity and wherein the at least one cylindrical member has a predetermined submergence level in coastal water. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cylindrical member comprises a vertical cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cylindrical member comprises a formation of the shape of a mangrove tree root. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the at least one cylindrical members are coupled to one another in a formation of a mangrove tree root system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined porosity is from 0% to 90% water-to-root volume. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined porosity is 47% water-to-root volume. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined submergence level is from 10% to 100% submergence. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cylindrical member comprises a material selected from the group of concrete, wood, polyethylene, steel, aluminum, copper, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylic, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PETE or PET), and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an anchoring member. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sediment integrating member. 
     
     
         11 . A method of mitigating coastal erosion using the system of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 a) identifying an area in need of coastal erosion protection;   b) determining a strength of at least one erosion force upon the area;   c) determining a coastal erosion risk level;   d) positioning at least one cylindrical member in coastal water at a predetermined proximity to the area in need of coastal erosion protection; and   e) securing the at least one cylindrical member to a sediment floor of the coastal water.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the area in need of coastal erosion protection is selected from the group consisting of ocean shorelines, lake shorelines, river banks, stream banks, and land in contact with water runoff. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one erosion force includes at least one of waves, tides, running water, wind, glaciers, and gravity. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the coastal erosion risk level increases in parallel to the strength of the at least one erosion force. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the number of the at least one cylindrical members positioned in coastal water increases proportionally to the coastal erosion risk level, wherein greater numbers of the at least one cylindrical members are placed when the coastal erosion risk level increases. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the securing step further comprises anchoring the at least one cylindrical member to the sediment floor with an anchoring member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the securing step further comprises inserting a sediment integrating member into the sediment floor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one cylindrical member comprises a formation of the shape of a mangrove tree root. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the at least one cylindrical members are coupled to one another in a formation of a mangrove tree root system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined proximity is selected from a group consisting of: a) a point between a shoreline and a wave breaking point, b) a point between a high tide water level and a low tide water level, c) on a shoreline, and d) a point between the location of wave formation and wave breaking point.