Sustainable cities and communities through GFRP secant-pile seawall innovation, sustainability, fortification and hurricane storm surge protection

In this ever changing technologically evolving world, in order to create a more sustainable built environment, it is essential to adhere to established core elements and improve or re-invent them for all of humanity, and from a Civil Engineering perspective this includes enhancing and better designing our current and future Infrastructure. A Global Education is essential to promote new, advanced materials, that are not yet mainstream, so we concur that the path towards Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), achieving relevant Targets 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.6 and 11.7, is indeed only possible, if other relevant SDG's are also met. This research effort is not only discussing Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), but also addressing Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9), through the use of GFRP Resilient Infrastructure project that were recently (2019) installed, in Florida, U.S.A., to start long-term, environmentally friendly, LCA/LCC long-term saving, protection of the Shorelines from Hurricanes and Sea Level Rise [Relevant SDG Targets 9.1 and 9.4 will also be discussed]. Climate Action [Relevant SDG Targets 13.1 and 13.3] and Quality Education [relevant SDG Targets 4.3, 4.4 and 4.7] which are instrumental to the success of this project are considered. Part of the discussions will address the distinctions in Sustainability, i.e. Stability, Resilience, Durability and Robustness among others. In order to illustrate the interaction of the SDG's, a Secant-Pile/Bulkhead Shore-Protection project that is buried within a dune-system and is in harmony with the surrounding coastal environment was chosen. Constructability issues will be discussed and illustrated, and data measurements provided to showcase the efficiency of this system, resulting in GFRP assembly time savings of 32% to 52%, lightweight installations and ease of constructability. An indication will be provided how the construction sector (i.e. sustainable built environment) can contribute towards Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11) of the future, along with the challenges that are associated with new materials and methods that yet have to find a broader foothold.