Performance and monitoring of innovative coastal defense works

Beach protection is today emerging as one of the most relevant environmental issues at the global level. The increasing vulnerability of beaches to human impact and the effect of climate change are determining an increasing risk which implies a significant socioeconomic threat. In fact, erosion of beaches and coastlines is observed with increasing frequency, with implications on the societal resilience to natural hazards. Several different techniques can be applied for protecting beaches and the seashore, ranging from structural methods to green and innovative solutions that are the subject of increasing attention in recent times. The aim of this thesis is to study innovative defense works against the erosion of the coast: in particular, the study focused on a submerged concrete barrier prototype, called WMESH, whose first modules have been recently installed in an area of the sea bad of the Emilia-Romagna coast. It is a permeable submerged barrier made up of reinforced concrete with a geometry that can dissipate a substantial portion of the wave energy, to promote the sand flow down to the shore and counteract its return. The first monitoring of the positioned modules and statistical tests on the wave and tide conditions in the affected area were performed in order to see the structure's response. These tests allowed to perform computer simulations with the 2D MIKE 21 program: the obtained results show that the structure responds positively, creating a reduction in the significant wave height and generating a sediment accumulation area in the area surrounding it.