SCG by Cement and Construction Solution Business has further strengthened partnership with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University by developing coral larval settlement with 3D Cement Printing Technology to fulfill the mission of restoring marine and coastal resources suitably.
The project or “Innovareef” has made yet another remarkable achievement by winning the National Innovation Awards 2020 for Product and Service Design. Innovareef is designed to enhance coral larval settlement and metamorphosis, coming with coral-like shapes and biodegradability that is not harmful to the environment and marine ecosystem. It is yet another milestone of using technology to restore the marine and coastal resources of Thailand.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nantarika Chansue, Director of the Veterinary Medical Aquatic Animal Research Center within the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Chulalongkorn University, said, “The concept of Innovareef was initiated by the need to restore coral reef ecosystem by installing coral larval settlement. ‘Innovareef’ is designed to have unique and complex structures with the customizability of shape, light, and shadow to match the installation area’s ecosystem. Innovareef also provides excellent durability and logistic and installation convenience.”
For the coral reef conservation effort, Mr. Ukkrit Satapoomin, Director of the Office of Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation under the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, disclosed, “The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources has policies and launches studies and survey plans for coral reef restoration. The Innovareef is deployed in the area to enhance coral larval settlement and metamorphosis, which such an effort will help recover the integrity of coral reefs. Not only will it help build marine ecosystem resilience, but we can also use this concept to promote Thai tourism like eco-tourism and diving. And it can also create another source of income for fishing communities.”
For the implementation of 3D Cement Printing, Mr. Chalermwut Snguanyat, Group Leader, Mortar Technology Research, R&I Center – Cement and Construction Solution Business from SCG, said, “The use of 3D Cement Printing can help create a coral-like larval settlement that can blend in with natural coral reef environment. Its structure can provide open and safe habitats for juvenile marine life. The cement materials used for 3D-printing the structure employ eco-friendly benefits to marine lives with uncompromised durability.
The project has harnessed Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for durability pre-assessment. This is to ensure that the artificial coral reefs will be durable and resistant to underwater conditions. The team also adds a special substance to coat the surface to improve coral larval settlement efficiency. Apart from this joint-development effort, SCG also harnesses 3D Cement Printing for construction. This is another SCG’s solution that aims to develop and enhance the construction standard in Thailand.
With this accomplishment, SCG by Cement and Construction Solution Business will continue to foster partnership and support natural resource conservation efforts. And it will engage more with civil groups for further implementation to raise awareness and lead sustainable marine and coastal resource conservation efforts.
For more information about 3D Cement Printing Technology, please contact Chalermwut Snguanyat of Research and Innovation Center at 081-843-0374