Rising sea levels and increased storm surges driven by climate change pose significant threats to coastlines, including flooding, erosion, saltwater intrusion, and habitat loss. By 2100, Europe alone could face annual coastal damages of up to €800 billion and up to 6’000 km of shore protection are required to safeguard populated areas. Conventional construction methods, which rely on heavy concrete and large sand dykes, are too slow and unsustainable to meet this urgent demand.
SafeShore introduces a novel hybrid technology for constructing coastal protection systems, such as barriers and armour blocks. Inspired by the human body, this technology uses lightweight, durable fiber-polymer composites for the exterior skin and skeleton, combined with a filling of heavy material. This approach significantly reduces construction time, costs, and environmental impact.
Current research focuses on enhancing the durability of composite materials against abrasive erosion caused by waterborne particles, minimizing their environmental impact, and performing life cycle assessments. SafeShore aims to advance sustainable coastal protection and establish a globally active Swiss startup addressing the challenges of climate change.
| Contact: | Tara Habibi |
| Keywords: | Coastal protection, Fiber-polymer composites, Climate change adaptation, Sustainable technology |
| Duration: | 2024-2025 |
| Funded by: | Fit Innogrant |