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Coastal erosion, a worldwide social issue, has garnered substantial attention. Numerous methods have been implemented to control coastal erosion problems; however, the presence of rigid structures limits erosion mitigation, thereby causing various challenges. For instance, in the case of submerged breakwaters, local scour in front of the structure and scour caused by the flow occurring in open inlets affect the subsidence and stability of the structure and can also cause structural failure. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a hybrid method of using a submerged breakwater with an artificial coral reef installation; further, this study evaluates the attenuation of waves and mitigation of sediment transportation through large-scale 3D hydraulic experiments. We found that the hybrid method with an artificial coral reef installed in the open inlet shows excellent wave control and plays a clearly beneficial role in the advancement of the shoreline. The artificial coral reef method reduced the return flow generated by the drag force at the breakwater shoulder and open inlet. In addition, scour at the breakwater shoulder was inhibited by collecting the sand escaping offshore. Simultaneously, scour at the open inlet was also mitigated. The application of the hybrid method compensated for the problems caused by local scour and erosion in the submerged breakwater, thereby leading to the improvement of its function. Therefore, the hybrid method proposed in this paper was determined to be applicable not only for submerged breakwaters, but also for various structures for controlling coastal erosion.

Non-point source (NPS) pollution is one of the primary sources of contamination in aquatic systems, such as rivers and lakes. Various techniques and devices, including low impact development (LID) and best management practice (BMP) devices, can reduce NPS pollution. These devices are installed with pretreatment units to remove NPS pollutants more efficiently and to facilitate maintenance. In this study, suspended solids (SS) and particle size distributions (PSD) were investigated in a pilot-scale facility to determine the effect of various pretreatment unit types and inflows on SS removal. We found that the efficiency of SS concentration and particulate matter removal changed significantly (p < 0.05) based on the aspect ratio of the pretreatment unit. Three flow conditions were also tested (10, 15, and 20 m3/h); SS removal was most efficient at 15 m3/h. These findings can be applied to the design of NPS management facilities, which is expected to help increase the efficiency of new NPS facilities while reducing operating costs.