Environmental Impact of Geotubes and Geotextiles used in Breakwaters and Small Breakwaters Construction (Case Study: Rigoo Public Breakwater in South of Qeshm island - Iran)

Coastal erosion has always been a serious problem in shorelines, which causes heavy damage to coastlines and public properties around the world. Rapid and uncontrolled coastal developments were started to prevent the exacerbation of erosion hazards. However in turn they have had a damaging impact on coastal ecosystems. The current study presents a comparative environmental impact assessment of two protective alternatives in coastal and shoreline structures, including traditional rubble system and a more novel one called geotube system. A case study of two breakwater structures in Bushehr and Qeshm in the south of Iran was performed and beneficial aspects of geotube system were identified.Coastal erosion has always been a serious problem in shorelines, which causes heavy damage to coastlines and public properties around the world. Rapid and uncontrolled coastal developments were started to prevent the exacerbation of erosion hazards. However in turn they have had a damaging impact on coastal ecosystems. The current study presents a comparative environmental impact assessment of two protective alternatives in coastal and shoreline structures, including traditional rubble system and a more novel one called geotube system. A case study of two breakwater structures in Bushehr and Qeshm in the south of Iran was performed and beneficial aspects of geotube system were identified.