Coastal areas and communities are increasingly exposed to marine hazards and extreme events, often with regional but also far-reaching global consequences. These include floods and storm surges, which often cause significant damage to coastal buildings and infrastructure. In the future, such extreme events are expected to change more rapidly than in the past, driven by accelerated sea-level rise. At the same time, these events can be intensified when they occur simultaneously or in rapid succession and interact with each other. The interactions of these extreme events and natural hazards, as well as their long-term impacts on marine ecosystems and coastal communities, will be investigated in the METAscales project.
The aim of the research at TU Braunschweig is to investigate adaptive coastal protection systems that enable the development of dynamic coastal regions. To implement local flood protection, innovative concepts for object-specific protection are being developed. Another focus is the protection of sandy coasts, which are particularly threatened by rising sea levels. Measures will be developed that not only prioritise practical engineering solutions, but also emphasise ecological added value.
In addition, a new concept for adapting to natural hazards and future extreme events will be developed for the port of Bremerhaven. This includes categorising the port into functional elements, assessing their vulnerability using a digital twin and developing adaptable strategies. In cooperation with bremenports, an adaptation portfolio will be created, which can be transferred to other ports in the future.