PR98437

BANGKOK, Nov. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Chula Veterinary Medical Aquatic Animal Research Center of Excellence

(VMARCE)'s Innovareef to accelerate recovery of the coral reefs, promote

eco-tourism, and monitor marine environment health has won the National

Innovation Awards (NIAWARDS) 2020 for Product and Service Design.

The previous generations of artificial reefs created visual pollution and were

largely ineffective.  Therefore, a Chula research team, led by Associate

Professor Dr. Nantarika Chansue, Director of VMARCE and Head of Ornamental

Aquatic Animal and Aquatic Animals for Conservation Research Unit (OAAC),

Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, have endeavored to

create lifelike artificial reefs with good tidal forces resistance to promote

settlement of planula, generate habitats for marine species, and help

accelerate the recovery of coral reefs.

Innovareefs have the following advantages over other artificial reefs:

1.      Coral nutrient coating with calcium and phosphate that corals need in

order to thrive.  Data shows faster growth of planula by approximately three to

four centimeters a year.

2.      Biomimicry accommodates the settlement of planula and serves as marine

life habitat.

3.      Resistance to tidal forces with a hydrodynamic design.

4.      Global warming monitoring smart station with fitted probes that can

monitor the marine environment, e.g., water temperature, tidal forces, and

potential of Hydrogen (pH).

5.      Winning Design made with the cement of close pH to seawater, Innovareef

is easy to transport, assemble/disassemble with its lightweight Lego block

design. The production cost is also as low as THB 26,000 per unit.

Thai Innovareef: A New Paradise for Divers

Innovareefs can be developed into eco-tourism attractions for both local and

foreign amateur divers, snorkelers, and sea walkers to generate income for the

country.

The Future: Next Generations of Innovareef

The team plans to lower the production cost and enhance the design based on the

prevalent marine species in the area.  They are also working with Chula

Engineering in applying nanotechnology to protect the Innovareef against global

warming effects.

For more information, please contact VMARCE Tel: +66 (0) 2251 8887, +66 (0)

2218 9510. Email: vmarc.clinic@gmail.com. For the full release and more images,

please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/89180

source: Chulalongkorn University

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