Civil Engineering January/February 2021 | Vol 29 No 1

Civil Engineering January/February 2021 25 VERTICAL SEAWALL STRUCTURES We all have a responsibility to consider greener solutions. In some instances, the solution may be to retreat, giving the coastline back to nature. In other in- stances, this may not be possible, and our fight with the sea will continue to protect existing infrastructure, especially in built- up areas with established infrastructure. This is where vertical structures will remain relevant. Coastlines are dynamic by nature, even with the changes we make to them. We have reclaimed land and moved coastlines seaward to provide more space for our cities. We enjoy living near the sea, and in some cases older residential developments, as well as industrial and transport infrastructure, are positioned closer to the sea than they should be. On Greenfield sites we may have a larger range of suitable ‘green’ solutions to choose from. When it comes to built-up and established cities and infrastructure on the coastline, traditional vertical structures may still be the best solution. Existing seawall structures are often adapted to accommodate the effects of global warming. One such example is the Dawlish seawall in England. Providing protection to a railway line, this wall was severely damaged in a storm, resulting in damage to the railway line and other infrastruc- ture. A new vertical concrete seawall was constructed in front of the existing wall. The level of the wall was raised, and the wall was fitted with a wave-return coping structure. Moving all the existing infrastructure landwards to accommodate a softer solu- tion would not have been the answer in this case, which is often the reality. This project also demonstrates how an existing seawall structure can be redesigned and reconstructed in almost the same loca- tion without surrendering infrastructure and property. There are developments, such as making traditional concrete seawalls more environmentally friendly. Vertical concrete seawalls can be fitted with ecological enhancement features such as textured panels that encourage the growth of marine organisms, depending on where they are located. Research into modifying the concrete composition to reduce its carbon foot- print is ongoing. Natural solutions may also complement the more traditional structures, lengthening the life of older structures when used in combination. Thus, vertical seawall structures will still be relevant for a long time, possibly devel- oping into greener solutions.  Sunken ships can be used to create offshore artificial reefs Railway Engineering Short Courses in Railway Engineering Access a wide selection of Railway Engineering short courses from leading experts from the University of Pretoria and stay on track with the latest industry developments to get a head start with integral knowledge and skills in a highly competitive industry. FEBRUARY–NOVEMBER 2021 8 = Online course l = Virtual sessions FEBRUARY 1 - 19 Feb Introduction to Multi- Disciplinary concepts in Railway Engineering 8 15 - 19 Feb Introduction to Railway Projects and Processes MARCH 16 - 18 Mar Technical writing and presentation skills APRIL 1 - 23 Apr Introduction to Multi- Disciplinary concepts in Railway Engineering 8 1 - 23 Apr Management of Continuously Welded Rails 8 12 - 22 Apr Train Movement Control Systems MAY 3 - 21 May Track Geotechnology 8 17 - 27 May Rolling Stock Technology JUNE 7 - 25 Jun Railway Infrastructure Maintenance Management 8 21 - 25 Jun Railway Technology for Executives JULY 5 - 15 Jul Transnet Freight Rail Operations 12 - 30 Jul Railway Safety Audits, Investigation and Reporting 8 AUGUST 10 - 31 Aug Introduction to Multi- Disciplinary concepts in Railway Engineering 8 18 - 20 Aug Technical Writing and Presentation Skills SEPTEMBER 30 Aug - 9 Sep Railway Safety Investigation 1 - 22 Sep Management of Continuously Welded Rails 8 OCTOBER 4 - 14 Oct Law, Risk, Economics and the Environment 4 - 22 Oct Introduction to Multi- Disciplinary concepts in Railway Engineering 8 11 - 29 Oct Railway Safety Audits, Investigation and Reporting 8 NOVEMBER 1 - 19 Nov Track Geotechnology 8 8 - 26 Nov Railway Infrastructure Maintenance Management 8 15 - 25 Nov Wheel-Rail Interaction enterprises.up.ac.za/engineering-courses Contact us today for more information or to book your space. Client Information Centre - Tel: +27 (0)12 434 2500 | info@enterprises.up.ac.za Shifting knowledge to insight Railway Engineering short courses are registered with ECSA for CPD