Hybrid Reef System Reduces Wave Power by Over 90% in Florida Test
Field measurements, modeling, and ongoing monitoring at the site indicated the system reduced wave power by more than 90%.
A modular hybrid reef system installed off the coast of Florida significantly reduced incoming wave power in recent field tests, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The structure, designed to be colonized by marine life, was deployed at Tyndall Air Force Base as part of a U.S. Department of Defense research program investigating new methods for coastal protection.
Project Overview and Findings
The project was developed through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Reefense program. An international research team, including nine scientists from Rutgers University, installed the modular reef system offshore of Tyndall Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle between October 2024 and March 2025.
Conclusions were based on data collected from field measurements at the installation site, computer modeling, and ongoing monitoring of wave energy, sediment movement, and biological reef development.
The structure is built from porous concrete modules and has been colonized by oysters and other marine life, forming a natural reef that builds upon and reinforces the original artificial framework.
System Design and Function
Researchers describe the system as a "Living Shoreline Mosaic™." It is designed to function alongside and evolve with existing coastal habitats such as marshes and seagrass beds. The reef operates similarly to a breakwater, an offshore structure that absorbs wave energy before it reaches the shoreline.
The study notes that the system's effectiveness increased over time as the reef developed.
David Bushek, a professor at Rutgers University and a lead author of the study, stated the research goal was to create a living reef that combines natural and engineered materials and can repair itself over time to help protect coastlines from flooding, erosion, and storm damage.
Bushek noted that in coastal engineering, reducing wave energy is a primary method for limiting shoreline erosion and storm damage.
Research Context and Methodology
Tyndall Air Force Base was selected as a test site because it sustained heavy damage from Hurricane Michael in 2018. This event prompted the U.S. Department of Defense to investigate new approaches for protecting vulnerable coastal infrastructure.
The study is described by the researchers as one of the most detailed tests to date on whether such hybrid systems can function as coastal protection infrastructure.
Research Team and Collaborators
The Rutgers University research team included lead investigators David Bushek, Ximing Guo, Hani Nassif, and Richard Riman. Other Rutgers contributors included Reid Holland, Michael Ruszala, Zhenwei Wang, Jenny Shin, and the late Danielle Kreeger.
Collaborating institutions included:
- University of Western Australia
- University of Melbourne
- Reef Design Lab
- Louisiana State University
- Mississippi State University
- University of Central Florida
- University of Arizona
- WSP Climate, Resiliency and Sustainability
- Auburn University
- University of South Alabama
- Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
Reported Potential Significance
Researchers involved in the study stated that if the system continues to perform as expected, it could represent a shift in shoreline protection strategies toward systems designed to work with natural processes.