Case Overview
A low-lying coastal municipality and marina district in Venice, Italy.High-tide events and intense coastal storms regularly threaten southern European coastal infrastructure.
The Challenge
Local municipal needed an emergency barrier system that could sit in storage compactly but deploy within hours notice across highways, promenades, and harbor fronts to hold back sea surges.
Technical specifications
- Defensive Footprint:900 linear meters of continuous municipal flood protection
- Physical ProfileHeight: 1.0m × Width: 1.0m
- Corrosion Resistance:Premium Galfan coating (95% Zinc, 5% Aluminum)
- Structural Integrity:Mesh wire weld shear strength exceeding 75% of the wire’s ultimate tensile strength
Implementation Details
1.Logistical Footprint: The entire 900-meter coastal storm surge barrier array was transported to the harbor front using just 18 standard shipping pallets, drastically reducing transport vehicle overhead.
2.On-Site Assembly: Utilizing the integrated pin-connectors, civil defense personnel interlinked separate pallet lots seamlessly without requiring specialized coupling tools.
3.Local Material Sourcing: To optimize response times, front-end loaders filled the heavy-duty geotextile liners using readily available local beach sand and gravel, eliminating the need to haul in external fill material during an emergency.
Performance Validation
- Rapid installation:The 900m flood barrier was fully set up within 6 hours before tidal surge arrived.
- Stable flood resistance:The barrier stayed intact against wave impacts, protecting the key coastal highway and keeping emergency & commercial passages accessible.
Long-Term Value & ROI Analysis
- Cost advantage:It delivers the same performance as Hesco barriers at much lower cost, easing local fiscal pressure.
- Reusable design: No structural damage after flood use; easy to clean, fold and store for repeated emergency use to cut long-term costs.
