Novel 3D printed reef tiles to re-populate coral biodiversity

Climate change, pollution, overfishing – these are just some of the environmental issues that humanity is facing nowadays. These particular issues happen to be the reason for coral reef deterioration across the globe. When the coral is dying, the reef starts eroding too, destroying unique marine life for which it once was a safe habitat. Researchers, scientists, and responsible companies within various industries are trying to take action and save coral reefs by developing innovative solutions and investing time and financial resources into the well-being of our planet. One solution that is becoming increasingly popular is the integration of 3D printing technologies. From 3D printed reef blocks made from sustainable materials to the actual corals being bioprinted – the attempts to preserve this important element of our ecosystem have been numerous, and it seems to be just the beginning of a long journey. The latest news comes from Hong Kong, where scientists and architects developed unique 3D printed reef tiles made from terracotta in an attempt to restore the reefs in the Marine Park .

The Marine Park hosts more than three-quarters of reef-building corals in Hong Kong area. Unfortunately, over the last few years erosion has significantly damaged the reefs. Therefore, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) launched the restoration project with the goal to preserve and manage coral community in the Marine Park. The project brought together architects from the Robotic Fabrication Lab and marine scientists from the University of Hong Kong (HKU)  to jointly design and additively manufacture reef tiles tailored for coral attachment. The team was also responsible for the installation of the 3D printed reef tiles and continuous monitoring of the marine life.

All image credits: University of Hong Kong

For this project, the team from the Robotic Fabrication Lab used robotic clay 3D printing with generic terracotta clay to manufacture reef tiles that cover approximately 40 square meters of the marine floor. In total, 128 pieces of reef tiles with a diameter of 600mm were produced. The intricate design was inspired by the patterns typical to corals and integrated several performative aspects addressing the specific conditions in Hong Kong waters.

It is important to note that in addition to the novel design of the tiles, the materials used for this project are more eco-friendly than the conventional concrete and metal processes. The tiles were first 3D printed in clay and then hardened at 1125 degrees Celsius to form terracotta (ceramic) in a kiln. The team plans to expand their collaboration to new designs with additional functions for seabed restoration in the region. Once the success of the mission is proven and the scientists witness noticeable improvements in the coral reef’s well-being, it would be interesting to see this technique implemented beyond the Hong Kong region, as hundreds of kilometers of reefs need to be saved worldwide.

All image credits: University of Hong Kong

Do do you think such 3D printed reef tiles from clay can help preserve coral biodiversity? Let us know in a comment below or on our Facebook and Twitter pages! Sign up for our free weekly Newsletter, all the latest news in 3D printing straight to your inbox!