A Singapore-Dutch alliance hopes its 'building with nature' project will bear fruit
Shobana Kesava, Straits Times 6 Dec 08;
'We want an aquatic centre in a marine setting, hopefully on one of the southern islands where we have the rare condition of pristine nature in close proximity to urban developments.'
IN FIVE years, there will be knowledge to build harbours in a way that can also sustain marine life, if a team of Singapore and Dutch researchers succeeds in a new venture.
At least $13 million will be spent by Ecoshape, a non-profit organisation headquartered in the Netherlands, and the Singapore-Delft Water Alliance based at the National University of Singapore, to take the concept of 'building with nature' to shorelines.
Sustainable coastal-related infrastructure supported by sound science is a new concept, the scientists said.
So far, such eco-friendly concepts have been applied mainly to the cityscape, said the programme manager of Ecoshape, Dr Jan van de Meene. 'This is the only programme in the world doing work on coastal infrastructure on such a scale.'
Hydraulic engineering, ecology, policy analysis and business sense will all have to be considered.
Singapore will be one of four sites for the studies, with the rest in the Netherlands.
The teams will create a coastal marine development programme, beginning with pilot tests, that can eventually be implemented at shorelines worldwide.
Dr van der Meene said: 'Singapore is an iconic project for us because we believe if we are going to develop this type of knowledge, it has to be shown by putting it into practice internationally.'
The director of the Singapore-Delft Water Alliance, Associate Professor Vladan Babovic, said several shorelines here are being considered for the project. 'We want an aquatic centre in a marine setting, hopefully on one of the southern islands where we have the rare condition of pristine nature in close proximity to urban developments.'
A dream site for the researchers would be Pulau Semakau, where coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass meadows flourish alongside the dumping grounds of waste incinerators. A concrete wall separates the natural from the man-made. The marine aquatic centre will be similar to a freshwater research centre at Sungei Ulu Pandan, which has an open concept, inviting passers-by to come in and find out more about science.
Discussions with government agencies, including the National Parks Board, Building & Construction Authority and the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore, have begun to find the best sites for the projects, he said.
By the end of next year, there could be 30 researchers working on a total of 15 projects to find the best way to build with nature. The first three will begin designing methods for their studies next month.
Dr van de Meene, a physical geographer by training, said the team will learn precisely how the ecosystem reacts to stresses and will then conduct tests to try to develop more natural ways to prevent erosion or biodiversity loss. 'For example, we'll find out when we can use alternatives to concrete.'
In some cases, restoring coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves may provide enough protection for the shoreline. But as such buffers have to extend 100m inland from the waterline to land safe enough to build on, they can be put up only in areas far from the Central Business District. On coasts by the CBD or sites to moor vessels, a hard shoreline might be the only alternative as its width is 20m.
However, it could incorporate hiding places to encourage fish and corals to grow.
'This is about regional planning to increase the biodiversity for any type of coastal development, whether on the cityfront, port or nature park,' Dr van de Meene said.
The programme to develop greener harbours will run for five years, alongside as many as 15 smaller projects, also for coastal research. Dr van de Meene said the Dutch government and private sector have committed $8 million to the projects. The funds are expected by the end of the year, revealed Prof Babovic.
The alliance which Prof Babovic heads was formed last year by national water body, PUB, the National University of Singapore and Delft Hydraulics, a Netherlands-based research and consulting organisation. It has committed a separate $5 million for the projects.
Prof Babovic said work will begin on research models at the Tropical Marine Sciences Institute's laboratories on St John's Island. Once perfected, these projects will find a home in nature.
Shoreline projects
THE first three projects by the Singapore-Delft Water Alliance and Ecoshape will look at:
# What causes sedimentation to rise in local waters.
# The resilience and recovery rates of marine ecosystems like coral reefs in the presence of man-made and natural pressures.
# How to make use of natural ecological engineering like mangrove forests to defend mankind from the effects of climate change.
Ecoshape is hopeful other projects with other Singapore agencies, such as the Environment and Water Industry Development Council, will make the programme even more beneficial to Singapore. The researchers hope that by 2011, the alliance's work with Ecoshape will have produced methods for activities ranging from economic development to recreation, and improving the quality of life, for example, through nature parks.
Dutch environmental models have been adopted on Singapore shorelines since the 1970s, most recently with the use of powerful pumps to maintain water levels at the Marina Barrage.
More details and links on the wild shores of singapore blog.
