The world's coastal landscapes are constantly being transformed by the construction of infrastructure (dykes, jetties, ports, etc.) to meet the growing demands of economic, residential and tourist activities. The natural coastal environment is fragmented by human construction, which encroaches on the ecological habitats of intertidal and subtidal zones. This is particularly marked on the Channel coast, where the tidal range is high.
Until recently, the response to a marine submersion event was approached from a purely engineering angle, with the construction of new infrastructure as the response. Over the last ten years or so, a paradigm shift has been taking place in integrating nature and society into the technical approach to projects coastal. The main objective of the project CHERLOC is to create and study two pilot sites in the Normandy region by integrating two types of artificial boulders into existing dykes (Cherbourg, Ouistreham) using approaches to social acceptability, biodiversity and coastal engineering.
The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of the behavioural, social and psychosocial reactions to the proposal for blocks to protect coastal sites of the Region; to be able to provide elements for dealing with the risks of submersion without falling into the bias of resistance to change. It is also a question of providing informed information on the situations in question, and of having a representation and an understanding of the situation. prognosis for managing these populations in the face of these coastal risks.
This multidisciplinary project involves a regional maritime works company (MARC SA), a design and research office (ARTELIA), an engineering school (BUILDERS École d'ingénieurs), three’University of Caen the project sponsor (CERREV, BOREA, M2C) and Ports of Normandy.
The knowledge acquired will mainly be of interest to research bodies, maritime engineering firms, maritime works companies and contracting authorities responsible for building coastal defences using maritime structures.
The CHERLOC project is receiving 50% of financial support from the Normandy Region (ERDF funds) and the European Union.
