Applications of geosynthetics for integral solutions for beach restoration and long-term management

The stability of the shoreline and the widths of beaches are dictated by the sediment dynamics and most of the shorelines around the globe are seldom in equilibrium. Beaches and dune sediments are displaced during storms and placed on submerged sandbars nearshore, which in turn, facilitate as wave energy attenuators. Then, in fair weather caharacterised by lesser wave energy sand moves back to beach (typically during summer season). When the sandbars and dune decreases in size, this sustainablebeach profile is damaged or lost(Dean et al. 2002). This usually happens due to human activities in the coastal zone. It then becomes mandatory, to understand the littoral dynamic processes to arrive at engineering solutions particularly to combat erosion. Over the past few decades, application of geo-synthetic products for beach restoration have proved to be flexible, serving as low cost solution solutions, and above all, they offer great advantages for controlling environmental impacts compared to rigid conventional structures. This paper describes the behaviour of the structures engineered with geo-synthetics for groins and submerged breakwaters, as part of an integral solution for beach restoration as a long-term management plan. The case studies presented are based on the experience of AXIS INGENIERIA since 2004 till date in southeast, Mexican states of Yucatán and Campeche. Special emphasis on the experience gained over the past decade in adopting geo-textile tubes as submerged breakwaters In the said regions are highlighted in this paper.