Eastern Macedonia & Thrace Region (DR5) - Pilot Activities Overview
The Eastern Macedonia & Thrace Region (DR5) is implementing four pilot actions responding to the main climate change challenges of the territory. These pilots are designed as knowledge hubs for testing Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), low-cost technologies, and climate-resilient production systems.
Pilot Action 3 – Geotube Breakwaters for Protection Against Coastal Erosion
Pilot Action Title
Geotube Breakwaters for Protection Against Coastal Erosion
Region Involved
Pilot Location
Coastal areas of Paggaion Municipality
Climate Hazard Addressed
Coastal erosion, extreme storm events, and rising sea levels
General Objective
The objective is to reduce wave energy reaching the shoreline and mitigate sediment transport away from the swash zone. By using sand-filled geotubes as artificial breakwaters, the project seeks to provide a lower environmental footprint compared to classical engineering solutions.
Technical Description
The pilot employs numerical simulations and advanced materials for coastal protection:
- NbS Infrastructure: Deployment of cylindrical sand-filled geotextiles placed parallel to the shoreline as submerged or emerged breakwaters.
- Numerical Optimization: Using CFD and wave modeling platforms to optimize geotube position and geometry based on historical storm data.
- Ecological Integration: The geotextile surface acts as a hosting habitat for marine life, such as seagrasses.
Foreseen Benefits
- Significant reduction in incident wave energy reaching vulnerable beaches.
- Habitat creation for local marine species, allowing the infrastructure to integrate with the local ecosystem.
- Protection of critical coastal infrastructure, including hotels and beach-zone businesses.
