Floating structures as a means of safeguarding coastal urbanizations sovereignty against the rising seasa floating community for egypt

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The issue of this dissertation is to assess sea level rise (SLR) impacts on Egypt’s coasts and to propose floating structures as a means to tackle them. This study offers two hypotheses: the Nile Delta’s coastlines will eventually be submerged where land reclamation approaches practiced only offer short-term solutions; and that floating structures offer the optimum solution for safeguarding Egypt’s coastal sovereignty when addressing land subsidence problems. Therefore, this thesis is motivated by three research questions: What are the most vulnerable sites to SLR impacts in the Nile Delta’s coastline? What are the adaptation approaches and mitigation solutions practiced in these sites and can floating structures offer a better solution against SLR for these sites? How to implement floating structures in the Nile Delta’s most vulnerable coastline sites to SLR? Previous studies indicate that floating structures developed through the last decades concluding that it’s the most sustainable solution, preferring it to land reclamation approaches where it may present a sustainable and cost-effective method. To date, no systematic floating structures investigation has been seriously considered in the Nile Delta regarding tackling SLR impacts as the government still rely on land reclamation solutions. If the government applies the recommended method derived from the outcomes of this thesis, it will safeguard Egypt’s coastal sovereignty for the long-term. The study will help to uncover critical impacts of SLR on costal urbanizations and offers floating structures as a sustainable long-term adaptation solution that Egyptian researches seem to disregard. Therefore, a new approach on adapting to the rising seas concerning Egypt’s Nile Delta is explored. To illustrate such approach, the Nile delta is used as a case study to show how floating structures could present the ideal solution for such low-lying region. To answer the research questions, the study conducts eight researches using up-to-date data. The first study conducts time series analysis and ranking of impacted areas from SLR on the Nile Delta. The second study conducts a qualitative assessment on SLR impacts for ten case studies and evaluates adaptation solutions practiced in each case. The third study conducts site analysis on the most impacted area identified. The fourth study conducts evaluation design matrix of adaptation and mitigation solutions. The fifth study conducts comparative analysis on eight in depth floating community case studies. The sixth study conducts comparative analysis of different approaches and methods to set guidelines for building on water. The seventh study conducts content analysis to set expanding dynamics guidelines of floating cities. Finally, the eighth study sets architectural design guidelines and floating community concept model for the Nile Delta. The findings show that the impacts of traditional adaptation approaches on Egypt’s coastlines are more complex than previously thought and suggest that they were tolerated over time when floating structures were not technologically advanced as nowadays. Findings provide support for the key arguments that traditional adaptation and mitigation methods are not a long-term solution. Analysis demonstrate Abu-Qir Bay to be the most vulnerable area to SLR. Although floating structures have demonstrated not to be the optimum solution in every case regarding cost effectiveness and site suitability, however upon site analysis, it presents itself to be the best solution for Abu-Qir bay for many reasons. The concept per say should not be observed as a precise demonstration for a future floating community module, but a reference for future projects rather than costly land reclamation methods.