Reefwatch
Restoring Coral Growth By Building Artificial Reefs And Implementing Mineral Accretion
Shreyans Baid x Reefwatch India
Overview
The design and implementation of an artificial coral reef in response to the growing threat of coral reef degradation caused by climate change and human activities. This project focused on creating a sustainable habitat that promotes coral growth and supports marine biodiversity. The artificial reef was built using eco-friendly materials, with strategic placement informed by water currents, coral species preferences, and environmental resilience.
The design and implementation of an artificial coral reef in response to the growing threat of coral reef degradation caused by climate change and human activities. This project focused on creating a sustainable habitat that promotes coral growth and supports marine biodiversity. The artificial reef was built using eco-friendly materials, with strategic placement informed by water currents, coral species preferences, and environmental resilience.
Impact
Coral Growth: Played a key role in accelerating coral growth by 7.6 cm over three months.
Designed and executed novel methods of prototyping and project execution.
Mineral accretion: Successful installation and maintenance of the mineral accretion system and the artificial reef.
Community Engagement: The project became a touchstone for conservation efforts, drawing attention to the importance of reef restoration and providing opportunities for research and tourism.
Role
Product Design, Reef Architect
Duration
1 Month
About Reef-Build
I joined the reef restoration project to bring an industrial designer's perspective. My background in metal and woodworking, along with material expertise, complemented the technical knowledge of marine biologists.
I collaborated with the inhabitants of the island and marine biologists to understand the fundamental problems in marine ecosystems through research, including scuba dives and coastal walks. This helped me bring a practical aspect to the project.
I joined the reef restoration project to bring an industrial designer's perspective. My background in metal and woodworking, along with material expertise, complemented the technical knowledge of marine biologists.
I collaborated with the inhabitants of the island and marine biologists to understand the fundamental problems in marine ecosystems through research, including scuba dives and coastal walks. This helped me bring a practical aspect to the project.
I joined the reef restoration project to bring an industrial designer's perspective. My background in metal and woodworking, along with material expertise, complemented the technical knowledge of marine biologists.
I collaborated with the inhabitants of the island and marine biologists to understand the fundamental problems in marine ecosystems through research, including scuba dives and coastal walks. This helped me bring a practical aspect to the project.
Three-Fold Approach to Differentiate Jivagro
Challenges
High Cost-to-Restoration Ratio:
The expense involved in restoring coral reefs was disproportionately high compared to the results achieved.
The expense involved in restoring coral reefs was disproportionately high compared to the results achieved.
Incompatibility with Mineral Accretion Technique:
The existing reefs lacked mechanisms to accommodate the hardware necessary for the mineral accretion process, hindering reef growth and durability.
The existing reefs lacked mechanisms to accommodate the hardware necessary for the mineral accretion process, hindering reef growth and durability.
Poor Ergonomic Design for Divers:
The structure required improvements in ergonomics to facilitate easier and more efficient attachment of corals by divers.
The structure required improvements in ergonomics to facilitate easier and more efficient attachment of corals by divers.
Three-Fold Approach to Differentiate Jivagro
Research
My research started with going for dives to understand the marine ecosystem, and the coral formations and understand the needs of the divers trying to restore the reef.
My research started with going for dives to understand the marine ecosystem, and the coral formations and understand the needs of the divers trying to restore the reef.
Ground Research:
I collaborated with marine biologists to educate myself about the marine ecosystem and their current methods of building structures.
Dive And Observe:
Underwater research made me reimagine and interpret my previous learnings. My research involved 5 dives off the coast of Chidiya Tapu to study the habitat/ environment that the corals live in and the factors that would affect the structural design
Ground Research:
I collaborated with marine biologists to educate myself about the marine ecosystem and their current methods of building structures.
Dive And Observe:
Underwater research made me reimagine and interpret my previous learnings. My research involved 5 dives off the coast of Chidiya Tapu to study the habitat/ environment that the corals live in and the factors that would affect the structural design
Insights
My research started with going for dives to understand the marine ecosystem, and the coral formations and understand the needs of the divers trying to restore the reef.
Coral Species and Substrate Preferences
Insight: Identified key coral species that thrive under specific conditions and discovered their preferred settlement substrates.
Finding: Fast-growing branching corals and boulder corals were more likely to attach to rough, stable surfaces.
Water Flow and Environmental Optimization
Insight: Analyzed water currents, nutrient distribution, and sedimentation to determine optimal reef placement.
Finding: Areas with moderate water flow and minimal sedimentation supported healthier coral growth. These conditions facilitated nutrient delivery while preventing suffocation from sediment build-up.
Ecosystem Dynamics and Biodiversity
Insight: Observed interactions between marine species and corals to design reefs that support biodiversity and a balanced ecosystem.
Finding: Herbivorous fish, such as parrotfish, played a vital role in controlling algae, which could otherwise overgrow and outcompete corals. Attracting these species became essential to maintaining ecosystem balance.
Structural Insights from Natural Reefs
Insight: Studied the layout and physical complexity of natural reefs to design dynamic, multi-level artificial reef structures.
Finding: Varied coral formations—clusters with different heights and complex shapes—attracted diverse species and provided ideal spaces for coral attachment and marine life.
Factors for the Reef Design
Our next phase was embodying the brand’s core values of goodness and building a strong ownable design language that was consistent yet differentiating across its product portfolio.
Our next phase was embodying the brand’s core values of goodness and building a strong ownable design language that was consistent yet differentiating across its product portfolio.
Ideation
Route 1: Modular Reef Structures (M.R.S.)
The idea was to produce many units that could grow the structure as a whole. This reduces the cost of making the structures while helping them with the disposable income they have. With every dive, they could grow the structure horizontally. Current structures are time and budget Intensive.
Route 1: Modular Reef Structures (M.R.S.)
The idea was to produce many units that could grow the structure as a whole. This reduces the cost of making the structures while helping them with the disposable income they have. With every dive, they could grow the structure horizontally. Current structures are time and budget Intensive.
Route 2: Stand Alone Structures (S.A.S.)
Getting inspired from their existing structures this route aims at improving the efficiency of their structures. I worked on increasing the surface area of the structure, which would give us more grids to work with and keep it compact.
Route 2: Stand Alone Structures (S.A.S.)
Getting inspired from their existing structures this route aims at improving the efficiency of their structures. I worked on increasing the surface area of the structure, which would give us more grids to work with and keep it compact.
Building The Reef
Route 2: Stand Alone Structures (S.A.S.)
These images showcase the fabrication of the artificial reef. This was achieved with the help of the locals who referred to the engineering drawings and executed the structural build under my supervision.
The process involved bending the metal rods as per the stencil, welding each junction carefully and polishing the hard edges so that no wildlife is harmed. The metal was left unprimed so that no material isleached underwater.
Route 2: Stand Alone Structures (S.A.S.)
These images showcase the fabrication of the artificial reef. This was achieved with the help of the locals who referred to the engineering drawings and executed the structural build under my supervision.
The process involved bending the metal rods as per the stencil, welding each junction carefully and polishing the hard edges so that no wildlife is harmed. The metal was left unprimed so that no material isleached underwater.
Mineral Accretion
The purpose of this process is to artificially produce the natural limestone which corals need to grow on. It accelerates coral growth, healing, resistance to stress due to anthropological impacts and climate change. It helps the reef to restore wherever it can not recover naturally.
The purpose of this process is to artificially produce the natural limestone which corals need to grow on. It accelerates coral growth, healing, resistance to stress due to anthropological impacts and climate change. It helps the reef to restore wherever it can not recover naturally.
Signs of Electrolysis
Hydrogen bubbles are being released and calcium carbonate has already begun accreting onto the structures. Seen as the white patches on the iron re-bar.
Hydrogen bubbles are being released and calcium carbonate has already begun accreting onto the structures. Seen as the white patches on the iron re-bar.
