Research

HIGH‑TECH RESEARCH

Translational science for coastal resilience and circular ocean economies

At the Research and Education for Environmental Foundation (REEF), we blend coastal biology with frontier technologies to engineer next‑generation solutions for marine conservation and climate resilience. Our applied research emphasises field‑ready prototypes, data‑driven decision support, and community-centred implementation. From autonomous monitoring stacks to low‑energy pollution upcycling and genomic inventories, REEF works to move innovations from bench to shore.

Digital Coastal Intelligence Marine Genomics Pollution Upcycling Resilience Engineering Community Science
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Research Pillars

Frontier themes guiding our work

Our research agenda is shaped around interdisciplinary pillars that combine technology, field trials and policy engagement to deliver measurable outcomes at local and regional scales.

  • Digital Coastal Intelligence: IoT sensor networks, UAV imagery and machine‑learning forecasts for shoreline and habitat monitoring.
  • Bio‑Innovation & Genomics: eDNA surveys, species barcoding and molecular diagnostics to map biodiversity and detect threats early.
  • Circular Blue Economy: Low‑energy plastic upcycling, composite prototyping and community micro‑manufacturing.
  • Resilience Engineering: Living shorelines, hybrid reef modules and simulation‑led coastal protection trials.
  • Community Science & Capacity Building: Crowdsourced atlases, training programs and participatory monitoring with local stakeholders.
Research Infrastructure
Autonomous coastal monitoring stations
AI species identification tools
Rapid prototyping & materials lab
Molecular biology & eDNA facility
Data command centre & dashboards

These platforms enable integrated experiments — combining sensors, genomics and materials science — to develop solutions that are robust, low‑energy and locally adoptable.

Flagship Projects

Pilot programmes and demonstrations

ShoreGuard — Autonomous Shore Monitoring

IoT • Computer Vision • Real-time Alerts

ShoreGuard couples low‑cost sensor arrays and computer vision cameras with citizen reporting to detect shoreline change, litter accumulation and habitat stress. Data streams feed predictive models and dashboards for local decision‑makers.

BlueCycle — Pollution Upcycling Demonstrator

Plastic-to-composite • Community pilots

BlueCycle develops low‑energy workflows to convert collected coastal plastics into composite panels and usable community products, emphasising circular value chains and local employment.

Marine Genomics & eDNA Mapping

eDNA • Barcode inventories

High‑resolution genetic inventories support rapid species detection, invasive species surveillance and conservation prioritisation across lagoon and nearshore habitats.

Living Shorelines & Hybrid Engineering

Field trials • Simulation optimisation

Nature‑based interventions — mangrove reforestation, oyster reef modules and stabilization structures — are being tested for biodiversity gains and erosion reduction under local conditions.

Community Biodiversity Atlas

Crowdsourced • Mobile app • Photo‑ID

A community‑driven atlas using mobile submissions and photo‑ID tools to build an open dataset of intertidal and coastal species for management planning.

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Open Data & Publications

Selected knowledge outputs

REEF releases technical briefs, field reports and data packs to support transparent science and evidence-based policy. Some downloads and datasets are temporarily unavailable while we migrate to a new data portal; please contact us for access to archived material.

  • Upcycling Coastal Plastics: Low‑energy Pathways — REEF Technical Brief, 2025
  • ShoreGuard: Early Results from an IoT Pilot — Conference poster, Coastal Resilience 2024
  • Muttukkadu Living Shoreline Trials — Field report (REEF & MCC), 2025
Research Infrastructure
Autonomous monitoring fleet
Molecular biology & eDNA lab
Rapid prototyping & materials testing
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Partner with REEF

We collaborate with universities, government agencies and community groups to co-design pilots, share data, and scale successful interventions. For partnership enquiries—research, funding, internships or technology transfer—contact us.

info@reef.org
Our team

Meet our people

Mr. Sivanesan. M

Founder and Managing Trustee
Our Approach

At REEF, we employ a holistic strategy that integrates sustainable aquaculture, community engagement, and environmental conservation. By fostering collaboration and innovation, we empower local communities to thrive while protecting our precious coastal ecosystems.

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