Abstract

Urban expansion, industrial discharge, and maritime shipping activities are progressively harming coastal ecosystems which need action towards biodiversity preservation through technological advancement. Creating artificial wetlands is one type of restorative approach for habitat coastal water quality improvement. This research focuses on the construction and implementation of artificial wetlands designed for marine environments, specifically within the vicinity of ports and estuaries. These constructed ecosystems are comprised of macrophytes, sediments, and water control systems, which remove pollutants such as heavy metals, nutrients, and petroleum hydrocarbons from runoff and ballast water using filtration. Artificial wetlands increase carbon sequestration and improve waters, and enhance ecological habitats for plants and animals. This study outlines design constraints such as salinity, water flow, and pollutant absorption, which impacts coastal systems to ensure optimal functionality within coastal regions. Pilot project case studies from smart ports illustrate advances regarding turbidity levels, nutrient or biogenic cycling, and biodiversity increase. In addition, the study assesses the effect of incorporating floating breakwaters and other maritime structures into the wetlands to improve the resilience of the wetlands to sea level changes and storms. This approach reaffirms the multidisciplinary efficacy of artificial wetlands as a sustainable method for coastal filtration and ecosystem restoration, in accordance with global standards for sea conservation and climate adaptation within highly developed aquatic urban areas.

Keywords: Artificial wetlands, Coastal water filtration, Habitat restoration, Maritime application, Ecosystem regeneration, Pollution control, Nature-based solutions