Our Exofamilies: Explainer

Here at Exo Engineering, we have developed a range of Nature-Inclusive products which can be used across many different coastal and marine environments. These products however, fit neatly into distinct product families depending on deployment application.

ExoTile

ExoTiles have been designed for use in coastal areas, either as a hybrid unit which provides coastal protection whilst combatting habitat loss, or solely as a retrofit unit which increases biodiversity in for ports and harbours.

Encompassed within the ExoTile name are our Nature-Inclusive Canewdon blocks and Essex blocks, both of which are flat in stature but with a broad range of surface textures to enhance their complexity. This ensures the blocks cover a multitude of ecological niches without compromising their ability to provide functional erosion protection.

We have also incorporated wave diffusion tiles onto our larger ExoTile units, designed to break up tidal energy instead of simply reflecting it. This can be especially effective in estuarine areas with delicate saltmarsh habitats.

Our ExoTile range also includes our ExoHabitat, designed to reintroduce water-retaining habitats back into our ports and harbour. A large protruding cup retains as much as 1.5 litres of water, preventing species from drying out as the tide ebbs and flows.

ExoReef

ExoReef units have been designed to act as low carbon artificial reefs, capable of helping to reintroduce lost hard substrate habitats at offshore projects sites.

ExoSpheres not only act as artificial reefs, but have been designed to also offer function scour protection as well. They can either be incorporated within conventional armour protection or placed on top of it, and provide the perfect home for crustaceans and other mobile marine life.

Our ExoLodge unit provides another opportunity for habitat restoration as a standalone artificial reef. Weighing in at 4.5 tonnes, these hexagonal pipe shaped structures have been specifically designed for Atlantic cod have yielded promising results from their deployment in both the Celtic and North Sea.

Finally, we have our ExoMatt which is our Nature-Inclusive articulated concrete mattress. This can help to mitigate some of the negative impacts caused by installation of offshore wind farms, again through reintroduction of complex, hard substrate habitat.

ExoRock

Our ExoRock units also follow a similar role in combining coastal defence with habitat creation, but instead can replace or be integrated within traditional rock armour.

From rock groynes to breakwaters to landfall protection, our units range from 75kg to over 5 tonnes, and feature complex surface textures which can be tweaked to best match your project specific requirements.

Want to learn more about how Nature Inclusive design could benefit your project? We’d love to hear from you! Find out more by getting in touch with us today