Leveraging emerging numerical models from engineering to support coral reef conservation

Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, providing essential services such as coastal protection, fisheries, and carbon sequestration. However, they face severe threats from climate change, including rising sea surface temperatures, ocean acidification, and increasingly frequent marine heatwaves. Artificial substrates are commonly used in conservation and restoration efforts, yet their hydrodynamic effects on coral recruitment, survival, and long-term reef development remain poorly understood.

This research aims to integrate computational fluid dynamics (CFD), particle tracking, and field-based photogrammetry to assess the role of artificial substrate morphology in coral reef restoration. The project will investigate how substrate shape, orientation, and spatial arrangement influence local hydrodynamics, impacting key biological processes such as larval settlement, filter feeding, and structural stability of propagated corals.

The methodology combines advanced numerical modeling with empirical data collection. OpenFOAM, an open-source CFD software, will be used to simulate flow fields around various artificial substrates under different hydrological conditions. These simulations will assess turbulence intensity and wake dynamics acting on coral colonies. Particle tracking in Unity will simulate larval dispersal and settlement behavior in response to these flow patterns. Field data from the Maldives, including 3D photogrammetric models of reef topography and in-situ flow measurements using custom-built sensors, will be incorporated to refine and validate numerical models.

By bridging engineering and marine biology, this project will generate new insights into the optimization of artificial substrates for coral conservation. The findings will contribute to the design of evidence-based restoration strategies, improving the effectiveness of artificial reefs in supporting coral resilience under future climate scenarios.