Graduation Year

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Degree Granting Department

Geology

Major Professor

Ping Wang, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Kamal Alsharif, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Richard Mbatu, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Patricia Spellman, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Whitford Remer, Ph.D.

Keywords

artificial reefs, Coastal Resiliency, Compound flooding, numerical modeling

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on the theory and application of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), through three unique case studies. This study explores how the broad and interdisciplinary NbS framework can be applied to mitigate common coastal hazards. This framework considers the environment, economics, and social wellbeing, equally in the design and implementation of a solution. The current paradigm, working against nature, which is commonly seen in more passive approaches to hazard mitigation, like grey infrastructure (e.g. a seawall to protect a shoreline against wave action) does not accommodate the extremely dynamic environment. As perspectives shift to “working with nature” NbS can be applied to not only mitigate hazards but also provide secondary benefits, unlike grey infrastructure.

This dissertation attempts to address various applications of NbS at different stages of the framework. A portion of this dissertation focuses on the restoring natural circulation pattern in McKay Bay, a heavily developed estuary within Tampa Bay. Various NbS were designed and tested using numerical modeling with the goal of improving circulation, while also improving water quality and habitat. The restored bayhead delta scenario successfully increased flow along the Palmetto Beach shoreline, to historic velocities. The next portion focuses on artificial reefs, which are a multi-benefit NbS, with the most common application being to reduce wave energy. This study addressed their stability and integrity as well as their efficiency in reducing wave-energy. It was determined through measured data that 80% wave energy reduction can be achieved in waves up to 0.35m. The last portion of this study on Compound Flooding, focuses on NbS from a slightly different perspective. NbS are designed to solve pressing environmental problems and hazards based on in-depth scientific understanding, however, in order to solve the problem, you must first understand the hazard. A deep understanding of the hazard is essential to design an NbS. Unlike grey infrastructure that manages hazards passively, NbS are designed to not only mitigate that issue but can also adapt in a changing climate. Therefore, an understanding of compound flooding (the hazard) and the environments in which this hazard can occur is necessary in order to design an NbS with the goal of reducing the impacts of compound flooding. It was determined in this study that compound flooding by the hypothetical “worst case scenario” is not a linear sum of the elevated water by each storm, because flooding along different sections of the rivers were influenced differently by the flood drivers. Therefore, understanding compound flooding at a project scale is essential. Overall, this dissertation aims to showcase three different applications of NbS to mitigate various environmental issues and coastal hazards.

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