Smart and Multifunctional Floating Structures for Coastal Protection and Flood Control
This project develops coastal protection solutions at two key sites along Singapore’s coast, using a combination of anchored and floating structures. These multifunctional breakwaters reduce wave impact and coastal erosion, while also integrating green energy systems such as tidal, wave, and solar power to maximise functionality.
Research Goals
- Develop an anchored–floating breakwater system that can be expanded in phases to protect coastlines against extreme weather driven by climate change.
- Create modular, multifunctional structures for two coastal sites in Singapore, co-located with renewable energy systems.
- Introduce labour-light and low-carbon construction technologies, including inter-modular connectors, IoT sensor nodes, and advanced modelling methods.
Why This Matters
- This project delivers targeted coastal protection solutions for offshore areas in Singapore that currently lack adequate defences.
- Multifunctional breakwaters are designed to adapt to sea-level rise and remain cost-effective even in deeper waters.
- Floating structures create sheltered zones, while both anchored and floating systems offer flexible design, placement, and reconfiguration options.
- Co-locating these structures with marine energy devices also enables renewable power generation for areas without grid access.
Latest Research Highlights
- Studied the performance of floating breakwaters with different geometries using CFD simulations to guide optimal shape selection, mooring design, and energy dissipation.
- CFD analyses showed horizontal-axis tidal turbines maintain consistent power output under combined wave and current conditions, supporting adaptive control strategies and reliable performance assessments.
Meet the Team
Meet the team behind the Smart and multifunctional floating structures for coastal protection and flood control project.
Principal Investigator (PI):
Associate Professor Qian Xudong
National University of Singapore
Research Fellow (RF):
Dr Zhang Yerong
Singapore Institute of Technology
Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI):
Associate Professor Tay Zhi Yung
Singapore Institute of Technology
PhD Student:
Zhang Xuejie
National University of Singapore
Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI):
Assistant Professor Fu Yuguang
Nanyang Technological University
Research Fellow (RF):
Dr Liang Ruihua
Nanyang Technological University
Research Fellow (RF):
Dr Wang Shiye
National University of Singapore
More Projects from the V1 Domain
Explore research under Innovative Engineering Solutions that develops adaptive, multi-functional coastal defences to enhance Singapore’s resilience to flooding, sea-level rise, and extreme weather, while optimising land use and integrating with existing infrastructure.
Download CFI's project booklet for more information on each project
CFI Singapore Tranche 1 and 2
If you wish to reach out regarding a specific project, please email CFI Singapore at cfisg@nus.edu.sg