Regenerative Terrain Strategies for Barrier Island Resilience

Barrier islands buffer coastlines from storms and sea-level rise but face escalating threats from climate change. Since 1998, hurricanes and environmental hazards, including oil spills, have intensified erosion and land loss along Louisiana’s coast. Current restoration strategies rely on carbon-intensive methods like offshore dredging and sand-trapping structures. This study explores microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) as a low-carbon alternative, combined with native planting, to reinforce soils and enable adaptive, regenerative land building. 

Using two decades of geomorphological data, the research applies computational and physical simulations to map erosion patterns and test MICP-based dune systems. ArcGIS spatial vulnerability mapping guides site selection, while sediment dynamics under wave energy are modeled using Docofossor and DuneWorm (GH). Simulations track volumetric changes through image depth mapping. Results highlight how selective MICP application can shape dune forms responsive to wind and sedimentation patterns, offering a low-carbon, scalable approach to restoring barrier islands through ecological reciprocity.