By Sharon Ryan
As Gulf Coast communities confront stronger storms, increased flood risk and chronic erosion, researchers at the University of Florida (UF) and University of Texas (UT) at Austin are testing a new idea: coastal defenses that not only block waves but also help rebuild the ecosystems that protect shorelines naturally.
A joint UF-UT team has received $875,000 through the Gulf Futures Challenge to launch a pilot project in Cedar Key, where they will evaluate a next-generation system designed to reduce wave impacts while restoring marine habitat. Known as NACRE — short for Nature-Inspired Architected Coastal Resilient Ecostructure — the approach blends engineering, biology and advanced manufacturing into modular shoreline structures intended to grow stronger over time.
“This funding allows us to move from vision to demonstration,” said Xiao Yu, Ph.D., associate professor of civil and coastal engineering at UF and co-principal investigator on the project. “At pilot scale, we can show how coastal infrastructure can protect communities while actively rebuilding the ecosystems they depend on.”
Rethinking coastal protection
Across the Gulf Coast, many communities rely on traditional “gray” infrastructure such as seawalls and breakwaters. While these structures can provide short-term protection, they may also affect surrounding ecosystems, require ongoing maintenance, and in some cases become less effective over time. Nature-based approaches, including marshes, oyster reefs and living shorelines, can also provide important protection and ecological benefits. But in rapidly changing environments, they may need additional support.
NACRE is designed to bridge that gap.
Instead of static barriers, the system uses modular, interlocking units inspired by marine organisms, from microscopic surface textures to reef-like forms. Produced using advanced 3D printing and robotic fabrication, the structures are designed to reduce wave energy immediately after installation. Their porous, calcium carbonate–based materials are also designed to attract marine life quickly.
“As living systems establish on and around the structures, they enhance both ecological function and physical performance,” Yu said. “Over time, that biological growth strengthens wave attenuation, biodiversity and structural stability.”
Why Cedar Key?
The pilot will take place in Cedar Key, in partnership with the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station, integrating research and local engagement. The community’s exposure to storm surge and erosion, combined with its reliance on healthy fisheries and coastal ecosystems, makes it a strong testing ground for living infrastructure.
Community collaboration will be central to the project. The team includes Mark Clark, Ph.D., associate professor of wetland ecology with UF/IFAS, and Savanna Barry, Ph.D., a regional specialized UF/IFAS Extension agent with long-standing ties across Florida’s Nature Coast.
“We have integrated community input from the start,” Barry said. “Working alongside Cedar Key residents and leaders ensures our efforts support local priorities while also meeting research objectives and advancing restoration practice.”
NACRE can be tailored to local needs, with designs adjusted to support goals such as habitat restoration, fisheries enhancement or integration with existing coastal infrastructure. Because the system is modular, it could function as a living breakwater, seawall or erosion-control structure, either independently or alongside existing defenses. Individual units can also be repaired or replaced as conditions change, supporting long-term adaptability.
“This pilot is strategically important,” Yu said. “By focusing on one site and one community, we can refine the technology and build a strong case for broader application.”
Building toward broader impact
Led jointly by UF and UT Austin, the project brings together expertise in coastal engineering, marine science, advanced manufacturing and community engagement. Additional collaborators include Yunlan “Emma” Zhang, Ph.D., an assistant professor in civil, architectural and environmental engineering (UT), and Simon Brandl, Ph.D., an assistant professor of marine science (UT).
Funding will support design refinement, deployment planning and field testing, generating data critical to scale the approach to other vulnerable coastlines.
“The Gulf Futures Challenge award is giving us the opportunity to show what’s possible,” Yu said. “A successful pilot in Cedar Key can help position Gulf Coast communities as leaders in climate-adaptive, regenerative coastal infrastructure.”
Related research
The team recently published peer-reviewed findings in Ocean Engineering examining bioinspired coastal protection strategies that help establish the technical foundation for deploying NACRE systems at pilot scale.