3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / Environmental / Saving Hong Kong’s Coral Reefs with 3D Printed Clay Tiles
revopoint

Saving Hong Kong’s Coral Reefs with 3D Printed Clay Tiles

March 23, 2021

The Caribbean Sea gets a lot of attention for its colorful and diverse coral reefs, but Hong Kong’s waters host some 84 species of coral, more even than the Caribbean. And just like the reefs in the Caribbean, those that inhabit the coasts of Hong Kong are also facing the devastating effects of climate change. In an effort to help the corals survive long enough to adapt to the warming waters, marine biologists at the University of Hong Kong are 3D printing terracotta tiles for the corals to grow on.

clay 3d printer coral
3D printer depositing clay (Image credit: Robotic Fabrication Lab, Faculty of Architecture, HKU)

When the government was alerted to reefs bleaching and dying at the Hoi Ha Wan marine park, they tasked local researchers with finding a sustainable solution. David Baker, an associate professor at HKU’s School of Biological Sciences, was one of those researchers and he turned to 3D printing to solve the underwater problem. “3D printing allows us to customise a tile or a solution for any type of environment and I think that’s the real potential that the technology brings,” said Baker. Customization is especially important here because, besides those environmental differences, the researchers don’t know what shapes and textures are most ideal for each coral species, so printing a variety of different tiles let’s them easily test what works best.

Printing the tiles in clay adds to the sustainability of the project because if a coral colony fails on a tile, the tile will naturally erode without altering the chemistry of the water, unlike other methods of building coral habitats such as intentionally sinking ships. Plus, clay is incredibly renewable. “Clay is basically soil, so soil you can find everywhere on earth,” said Christian Lange, associate professor at HKU’s Department of Architecture. 

3D printed coral
3D printed coral (Image credit: Robotic Fabrication Lab, Faculty of Architecture, HKU)

Around 400 coral fragments were attached to the printed hexagonal tiles and placed on a 40-square meter area of the seabed in Hoi Ha Wan marine park, and so far they’re performing quite well according to Vriko Yu, a PhD student of Ecology and Biodiversity at HKU. “The first time we put down the tiles, there were a few fish around,” said Yu. But after returning, they were teeming with marine life, including cuttlefish protecting their eggs in their new homes. She estimated that the success rate of the tiles was close to 90%, adding that “the corals now on the tiles definitely survive better than the traditional way of transplantation.”

Baker is hopeful that the printed tiles will allow the research team to determine which species are most resilient to climate change so that they can be used to repopulate other areas where coral die-offs are occurring, like the Great Barrier Reef. He also thinks that they may have built a sort of sanctuary for coral, “We might actually be creating a new potential home for corals as they try to escape climate change from equatorial regions.”

Related Story
Living Seawall Tiles: Volvo’s Plan For Combatting Pollution
Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
About the author | Cameron Naramore
Cameron is a 3D printer and CNC operator. He's fond of cooking, traveling, and science fiction.
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Latest posts

United Utilities Expands 3D Printing for Water Infrastructure Operations

United Utilities is incorporating 3D printing technology into its operations following the completion of a two-year Water Industry Printfrastructure project. The initiative, funded... read more »

News
United Utilities Expands 3D Printing for Water Infrastructure Operations

New Frontier Aerospace Successfully Tests 3D-Printed Rocket Engine

New Frontier Aerospace has completed a series of hot-fire tests of its 3D-printed Mjölnir rocket engine, the company announced from its Kent, Washington... read more »

Aerospace
New Frontier Aerospace Successfully Tests 3D-Printed Rocket Engine

FRCE Innovation Lab Creates Rapid Solution for F-35 Fleet

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) has produced 2,000 O-ring installation tools for F-35 Lightning II aircraft using 3D printing technology. The project was... read more »

Military
FRCE Innovation Lab Creates Rapid Solution for F-35 Fleet

Etsy’s New 3D Printing Restrictions: What Sellers Need to Know

Etsy has recently updated its policy regarding items in the "Made by a Seller" category, specifically clarifying rules for products created with "computerized... read more »

News

New 3D-Printing Technique Creates Dual-Material Objects from Single Resin

Researchers have developed a new Vat photopolymerization technique that creates both permanent objects and dissolvable supports in a single process. According to a... read more »

Materials
New 3D-Printing Technique Creates Dual-Material Objects from Single Resin

Northumbria Receives EU Funding for Sustainable 3D-Printed Construction Research

Northumbria University has received a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Fellowship worth over a quarter million euros to research low-carbon, 3D-printed construction materials. The... read more »

Construction
Northumbria Receives EU Funding for Sustainable 3D-Printed Construction Research

3D-Printed Sports Bra Could Help Olympic Star Break Historic Athletics Record

Nike has developed a new 3D-printed sports bra called the FlyWeb Bra for runner Faith Kipyegon's attempt to break the 4-minute mile barrier.... read more »

News
3D-Printed Sports Bra Could Help Olympic Star Break Historic Athletics Record

Vietnam Emerges in High-Tech Medicine as Vinmec Pioneers 3D-Printed Breakthroughs

Across pediatric, adult, and geriatric cases, Vietnam’s Vinmec Healthcare System's implementation of 3D printing solutions has significantly transformed patient outcomes, replacing disability with... read more »

Medical
Vietnam Emerges in High-Tech Medicine as Vinmec Pioneers 3D-Printed Breakthroughs

Johns Hopkins APL Helps Navy Overcome Metal 3D Printing Reliability Concerns

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) are working with the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to address reliability concerns with... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Johns Hopkins APL Helps Navy Overcome Metal 3D Printing Reliability Concerns

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • QIDI Plus4

    • - Print size: 305 x 305 x 280 mm
    • - print temperature of 370°C
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • Snapmaker Artisan Premium 3-in-1

    • - Print size: 400 x 400 x 400 mm
    • - comes with enclosure
    More details »
    $2,999.00 Snapmaker
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech X-Max 3

    • - Print size: 325 x 325 x 315 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech Q1 Pro

    • - Print size: 245 x 245 x 245 mm
    • - 600mm/s max speed
    More details »
    $449.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2025 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing