SBIR Phase I: A wave attenuation technology for oyster reef restoration and small dock protection

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业化潜力是通过在个人层面上增进对牡蛎礁形成的了解，以及提高包括小型码头在内的海滨基础设施的弹性，来推进牡蛎礁的恢复工作。该项目将开发一种可以改善生态系统服务和私人码头保护的技术。完整的基础设施和海岸保护的社会经济重要性包括保持财产价值、经济就业机会，以及通过最大限度地减少侵蚀来支持沿海基础设施。该项目的重点是一种浅水波衰减系统，它不会限制后面的水流，也不会产生泥沙淤积。这一系统对于牡蛎礁的修复和小型码头的保护都是必要的。牡蛎礁不会在已经被航道化的区域建立，然后由于波浪能量的增加而受到船只尾流和增加捕捞的影响。拟议的系统将与水面挂钩，并将适应水位的变化，但必须固定在底部。在这个项目中未知的是，为了既能在极端事件中幸存下来，又不会吸收太多的波浪能量来限制水流，该系统必须以多大的严格程度遇到迎面而来的海浪。无毒和生物兼容的原型的开发将提供必要的数据，以预测经济和享乐价值。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercialization potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in advancing oyster reef restoration efforts by improving the understanding of oyster reef formation at the individual level and improving the resilience of waterfront infrastructure including small docks. This project will develop a technology that could improve ecosystem services and private dock protection. The socioeconomic importance of intact infrastructure and coastal protection includes maintaining property values, economic job opportunities, and supporting coastal infrastructure by minimizing erosion. This project is focused on a shallow water wave attenuation system that does not restrict water flow behind it and does not create sediment accretion. This system is needed for both oyster reef restoration and the protection of small docks. Oyster reefs do not establish in areas that have been channelized and are then subjected to both boat waking and increased fetch due to the increased wave energy. The proposed system will be indexed to the water surface and will adapt to changes in water height but will necessarily be anchored to the bottom. What is unknown in this project is how rigidly the system has to encounter oncoming waves in order to both survive extreme events and not absorb too much wave energy as to limit water flow. The development of a nontoxic and biocompatible prototype would provide the data necessary to project both economic and hedonic valuation.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.