3D Innovareef: Sculpture to Restore Thai Marine Ecosystem

BANGKOK,Oct. 25,2022 --Chula Veterinary Medical Aquatic Animal Research Center of Excellence (VMARCE)'s Innovareef to accelerate recovery of the coral reefs,promote eco-tourism,and monitor marine environment health has won the National Innovation Awards (NIAWARDS) 2020 for Product and Service Design.

The previous generations of artificial reefs createdvisual pollution and were largely ineffective. Therefore,a Chula research team,led byAssociate Professor Dr. Nantarika Chansue,Director of VMARCE and Head of Ornamental Aquatic Animal and Aquatic Animals for Conservation Research Unit (OAAC),Faculty of Veterinary Science,Chulalongkorn University,have endeavored to create lifelike artificial reefs with good tidal forces resistance to promote settlement of planula,generate habitats for marine species,and help accelerate the recovery of coral reefs.

Innovareefs have the following advantages over other artificial reefs:

1. Coral nutrient coatingwith calcium and phosphate that corals need in order to thrive. Data showsfaster growth of planula by approximately three to four centimeters a year.

2. Biomimicry accommodates the settlement of planula and serves as marine life habitat.

3. Resistance to tidal forceswith a hydrodynamic design.

4. Global warming monitoring smart stationwith fitted probes that can monitor the marine environment,e.g.,water temperature,tidal forces,and potential of Hydrogen (pH).

5. Winning Designmadewith the cement of close pH to seawater,Innovareef is easy to transport,assemble/disassemble with its lightweight Lego block design. The production cost is also as low as THB 26,000 per unit.

Thai Innovareef: A New Paradise for Divers

Innovareefs can be developed into eco-tourism attractions for both local and foreignamateur divers,snorkelers,and sea walkers to generate income for the country.

The Future: Next Generations of Innovareef

The team plans to lower the production cost and enhance the design based on the prevalent marine species in the area. They are also workingwith ChulaEngineering in applyingnanotechnologyto protect the Innovareef against global warming effects.

For more information,please contact VMARCE Tel: +66 (0) 2251 8887,+66 (0) 2218 9510. Email:vmarc.clinic@gmail.com.

For the full release and more images,please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/89180/