An artificial reef system developed by a research team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has helped double the size of an eroding beach at a resort in the Maldives within two years.
Unlike conventional coastal protection methods, which often involve removing or adding sand or constructing hard barriers, the system is designed to encourage the natural accumulation of sand along the shoreline.
According to a report by the Times of India, the 300-foot-long beach at a Marriott-operated resort in the Maldives had been gradually eroding. To address the problem, MIT researchers created 54 specially designed concrete blocks using locally available materials and placed them approximately 150 feet offshore.
The blocks reduce wave energy and create conditions that allow sand displaced from the beach to return and accumulate along the shoreline.
The results reportedly became visible within months. Around six months after the project began, approximately 90 feet of additional beach had formed. Two years later, the beach had doubled in size.
Researchers also observed the growth of marine life, including coral and fish, around the artificial reef.
The technology originated from an unexpected observation by Skylar Tibbits, a professor in MIT’s Department of Architecture and a lead researcher on the project. During a visit to the Maldives, Tibbits observed how quickly a naturally formed island had developed. This led the team to investigate whether similar natural processes could be used to restore and protect coastlines.
Tibbits’ team spent nearly a decade developing and testing the system. Following computer simulations, the technology was tested at 10 locations across the Maldives.
A startup called Coastal Assembly, established late last year based on the research, has since raised $4.4 million in funding. The company uses artificial intelligence to analyse satellite and ocean data, identifying areas expected to experience significant erosion over the coming months and years. It then develops plans for placing the blocks in the most vulnerable areas.
Tibbits has argued that conventional approaches to coastal protection are not always effective. He has described sand replenishment as potentially damaging to beaches and largely a temporary solution, noting that some resorts have to continually add sand throughout the year.
He has also warned that hard structures such as seawalls can be expensive and may accelerate erosion on neighbouring beaches by altering natural coastal processes.
The artificial reef system is designed according to the conditions of each location. Since seabed characteristics and wave patterns vary from one beach to another, the blocks are customised for individual sites. Different block configurations are also used to maintain a more natural reef structure.
Coastal Assembly is now expanding its work in the Maldives and preparing similar projects in locations including Boston and Miami in the United States.
Tibbits said the approach reflects a broader shift away from rigid coastal engineering methods towards solutions that work with natural systems.
