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Review
. 2023 Sep 4;9(9):e19646.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19646. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Environmental impacts of shore revetment

Sarinya Sanitwong-Na-Ayutthaya  1 , Cherdvong Saengsupavanich  1 , Effi Helmy Ariffin  2   3 , Amila Sandaruwan Ratnayake  4 , Lee Shin Yun  1   3
Affiliations
Review

Environmental impacts of shore revetment

Sarinya Sanitwong-Na-Ayutthaya et al. Heliyon. .

Abstract

Coastal structures, especially revetments, have been widely implemented to protect properties and infrastructures from erosive waves during storms. While being incompatible with nature-based solutions, revetments have still been constructed due to their effectiveness in solving coastal erosion. One of the most crucial concerns that should be considered as part of a revetment implementation is how to diminish and manage its possible impacts on the environment. Thus, a thorough understanding of how the revetments affect the surrounding environment must be achieved. This article critically reviews and summarizes their economic considerations, and environmental impacts on beach morphology, hydrodynamics, ecology, aesthetics, beach accessibility, beach recreation, and other notable aspects. Coastal practitioners and researchers, who are involved with the revetments, may increase their environmental awareness before implementing them. The revetments can be an excellent option to protect the eroding shoreline, if their possible environmental consequences are well-understood and properly managed.

Keywords: Beach environment; Coastal management; Environmental impacts; Shore protection structure; Sustainable coastal development.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
An interconnectedness of environmental impacts in this study.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Different types of revetment. (A) A rock revetment, (B) a sandbag revetment, (C) a concrete tetrapod revetment, (D) a grouted rock revetment, (E) a gabion revetment, and (F) a curve-faced concrete revetment.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Front beach of revetment (A) toe scouring, (B) sand climbing on the front slope.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Adjacent beach morphology with revetment. (A, B) Flanking effect at the downdrift end of the stepped revetment. (C, D) Flanking effect at the downdrift end of the rock revetment.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
A presence of benthic epifauna on revetment surface. (A) A rock revetment, and (B) a concrete revetment.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
The once-eroded beaches in Thailand that are now secured and enhancing coastal recreation; (a) the Kamea noo Beach, Jantaburi Province in 2005, (b) (a) the Kamea noo Beach, Jantaburi Province in 2022, (c) the Suan Son beach, Rayong Province in 2005, (d) the Suan Son beach, Rayong Province in 2022, (e) the Pra-Ae beach, Krabi Province in 2014, (f) the Pra-Ae beach, Krabi Province in 2021, (g) the Jatinpra beach, Songkla Province in 2014, (h) the Jatinpra beach, Songkla Province in 2021.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
A revetment acting as a marine debris collector.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
The retained water damaged the facilities on a revetment crest.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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