Reclamation Solutions:

Challenge of Rising Sea

Level and Climate
Change

Loh Chih Kang

25 Apr 2017
A Land Reclamation and Dredging
Summit, Manila, Philippines
Climate Change and What it Meant to Singapore

Source: The Straits Times, 15 Apr 2015

Adapting to Climate Change

Coastal Water Resource

Protection Management

Enhancing Drainage and

Knowledge and Flood
Expertise Prevention
Adapting to
Climate
Change
Past Coastal Inundation Event in Singapore

Nov 1974

Source: National Archive of Singapore

• No rainfall recorded
• High tide level: ~3.9 m
• Flood Depth: 1 m – 1.5 m
• Covered large area
(from Changi Beach to Boat Quay including airport and East Coast) Source: National Archive of Singapore
Worst Co bi e Flood Eve t i Si gapore’s History

Dec 1978

Source: National Archive of Singapore

• Rainfall intensity: 512.4 mm in 24 hours

• Coincide with high tide ~3.2 m
• Flood Depth: 2 m
• Casualties: 7 killed, more than 1,000 evacuated
• Flood Damage: ~ SGD10 mil
Is it still happening?
June 2010
• Rainfall intensity: ~ 100mm in 2 hours
• Flood Depth: 30 cm (Except Basement)
• Flood Damage: > SGD8 mil

Source: Asiaone News

Yes, it is still happening.
Immediate Actions – Change in Code of Practice

Original (2000) Amendments (2011)

Minimum Platform level
i. Developments in catchment: i. Developments in catchment:
Southern coast – 101.75 mRL Southern coast – 104.0 mRL
North-eastern coast – 102.05 mRL Northern coast – 104.5 mRL
North-western coast – 102.35 mRL

ii. General developments: ii. General developments:

the adjacent road/ground level 300 mm above the adjacent road/ground level

iii.Commercial/multi-unit developments: iii.Commercial/multi-unit developments:

300 mm above the highest recorded flood level 600 mm above the highest recorded flood level

Reclamation level
103.0 m RL (South) 104.0 m RL (South)
103.5 m RL (North) 104.5 m RL (North)

Manage inland flooding but not coastal inundation

Understanding Sea Water Component and the Risk
Understanding Existing Coastline Condition
• Surrounded by sea with Tidal Range: ~ 3 m
• Generally flat and low-lying
• Coastline: ~ 430 km (as of 2014)
 ~ > 50% hard structures
•
Beach Mangrove
Land Area: ~710 km2
• Population: ~ 5.7 mil (as of 2016) Hard Structure
Natural

Revetment Vertical Seawall

Land Use behind the Shoreline

Residential 1%
Industrial & Commercial 25%
Parks & Nature Reserve 34%
Transportation 13%
Open Area 14%
Others:
13%
Recreational, Defence, Utilities
Singapore’s Master Plan 2014 Source: Flood net * As of 2014
Categorization of Infrastructures

Higher Category = Higher Protection Level

Economy
Examples of Infrastructures Sector:

Life Time • Energy

• Water
Criticality
• Financial

Security Social • Transport

• Government
Environment
General Coastal Adaptation Strategies
Protect Accommodate Retreat
General Types of Coastal Protection Measures (Hard)
1. Flood Walls
 Permanent Flood Wall
+ Fully in place and do not require operation
+ Require small space and relatively low cost
- Potentially separate areas with water front
 Demountable Flood Wall
+ Fully/partly pre-installed
- require operation
 Temporary Flood Wall
• Removable and installed only during flood
• More versatile
• Limited protection height and resistance
• Require storage space and longer lead time
General Types of Coastal Protection Measures (Hard)
2. Earth Bund / Revetment
+ Blend in with surrounding landscape easily
+ Cheaper form of measure (compared to
floodwall)
– Require more space for implementation
– Fill materials generally lack in Singapore

3. Multi-Functional Design
 Function of flood defence during extreme events
General Types of Coastal Protection Measures (Hard)
4. Localized Measures

Dry Flood Proofing Site Protection Building System Protection

General Types of Coastal Protection Measures (Soft)
1. Beach Nourishment
+ As buffer for breaking waves
+ Reduce wave forces and damage from storm
– Requires extensive amount of sand for re-nourishment
– Can be eroded by extreme surges and waves Before Nourishment After Nourishment

2. Vegetated Dunes
+ As barrier against extreme surges and waves
+ Reduce wave forces and washover currents
Sands topping up
– Require large space due to dynamic progression of dune
– Can be eroded by extreme surge and waves

3. Coral Reefs
+ Reduce wave heights and wave forces (up to 97%)
– Decreased survival in acidified ocean
– Effectiveness depends on tidal height (reef exposure) during
storm
General Types of Coastal Protection Measures (Soft)
4. Mangroves
+ Reduce wave heights and wave forces
+ Reduce storm surge heights
– Only effective for large areas of mangroves and
over extended period
– Effectiveness depends on storm characteristics

5. Living Shoreline
+ Mitigate erosive waves
+ Slight reduction in wave run-up
– No storm surge flood control due to low crest elevation
Creating Living Shorelines
“horeli e that is enhanced with innovative and sustainable solutions
to create ecological benefits to the local biodiversity and environment
whilst ensuring coastal protection is met.
 Understanding the Site: ecological and physical system etc
 Acceptable by all owners and users
 Integration of different knowledge disciplines

Artist impression of eco-shoreline near cityscape

Understanding the Behaviour of the System

Desired Outcomes
 Revitalize and create a cycle of life” which will sustain or even enhance the overall biodiversity value at the site.
 Designing with nature to ensure that the eco-shoreline implemented is viable and sustainable in the long term and suitable for the unique local conditions.
Creating Living Shorelines

Enhancing Hard Protection Measures with Soft

Protection Measures and Eco-Shoreline
Features
Design for Black Swan Event
Plausible high-end climate change scenarios
 Reserve space

Reserved Zone Reserved Zone

 Prepare upgraded foundation

Adaptive design approach:

To be reviewed frequently or when
more research results are available
Adaptive Pathway – Monitoring

Monitoring
Projection
Water Levels (m RL)

2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 2080 2090 2100

Trigger point : Action is required when threshold is exceeded

Tipping point : Selected action is no longer effective beyond

Adaptive Pathway – Build Schedule

Stage 4
Stage 3
Stage 2
Stage 1
Intervention (11)
Intervention
(5)
Intervention
(6) to (10)
Intervention
(1) to (4)

I I I I I I I I I I
2017 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 2080 2090 2100
Intervention
(1) to (4)

Intervention
(5)
Intervention
(6) To (10)

Intervention (11)
Engineering Reclamation as part of Coastal Adaptation
Si gapore s Pla ed Future ‘ecla atio Profile
Higher Minimum Reclamation Level

Reclaimed up to:
• 104.0 mRL (North)
• 104.5 mRL (South)

Reclaimed Land as Coastal Defence?

Low-Lying
Risk of Inundation
Coastal Adaptation Decision Support System

Understand Risks Identify Options Select Options

Output:
Input: Identify Shortlist the
Output: Input: Cost/benefit
SLR projection possible best
Baseline Flood adaptation Engineering analysis and adaptation
and baseline
impacts measures options residual flood option
data
impacts

Engineering Report
Flood • Testing of protection options • Cost/benefit analysis of
• Flood depth & duration adaptation options
• Flood maps

Economic (Impact)
• Damage/loss to assets
• Financial parameters
What is Singapore doing?

First Project undertaken to Prepare for Impact of Rising Sea Level

• 2016 – LTA raised Nicoll Drive by 0.8 m
• Help motorists stay dry during unusually high tides, which happened at
least twice - in 1974 and 1999.
Reclamations in Singapore
It’s ot the stro gest species or the ost
intelligent species which will survive, but
it is the one most adaptable to change.
- Charles Darwin

Loh Chih Kang | Director, Coastal Environment

Surbana Jurong Consultants Pte Ltd
168 Jalan Bukit Merah
#01-01 Connection 1, Singapore 150168
T +65 6248 1288 | F +65 6248 1292 | D +65 6248 1396
chikang.loh@surbanajurong.com | www.surbanajurong.com

Maraming Salamat!