In recent years, the interest in integrating shore protection with the local ecosystems has increased. In comparison with the traditional reinforced embankments, integrated shores form a gradual transition from land to water where shore vegetation can establish itself. These nature-friendly shores have a positive impact upon the water quality, flora and fauna and the amenities of the shore. Some of the benefits of vegetation are its capability of reducing the hydrodynamic loads on the shore and its ability to increase the soil strength against erosion. Both effects have been investigated in detail in previous research and have been implemented for coastal protection designs in sandy coastal settings. But a designing tool for cohesive shorelines in lake environments is still missing. In this research, the different aspects important for the erosion of a vegetated cohesive shoreline are studied and the first steps towards a process-based design tool are taken. The model results show that the dominant processes for erosion can be found at the point of wave breaking and at the start of the run-up, as both combinations give the highest induced bed shear stresses. This can be used for a strategic placement of vegetation to dampen the wave impact and reinforce the soil through the roots. There are situations in which a partially vegetated shore is sufficient to withstand the daily wave attack. This allows the vegetation to grow naturally to full strength, which is required in a storm situation. In this way a financial benefit can be reached as well as a healthier vegetated shore, as a large part of the vegetation has grown naturally.

Growth of world population, sea level rise, land subsidence and climate change gives new challenges for the present and the future. A new innovative approach of engineers is needed to reach socio-economic development with care for the environment. In the Netherlands, an EcoShape consortium is initiated where multiple experts came together from the Dutch private and public sector. In this consortium governmental organisations, knowledge institutes and business companies are involved to search for adaptable and sustainable engineering solutions to exploit and promote the ‘Building with Nature’ program. The main goal is to move from building in nature towards building with nature, using the natural forces present in the system.

Chile has shown interested in the Dutch Building with Nature program and the question raised whether a similar concept could be introduced in the country. Therefore, the organisational structure of the Chilean water sector related to coastal engineering is investigated in this research, as well as several case studies are used to illustrate the potential of Building with Nature in Chilean projects. These projects are the coastal erosion in Pichilemu, a port expansion in San Antonio and coastal erosion in Los Vilos.

The Chilean coast shows in different aspects a very dynamic behavior. For the design of a coastal structure it is important to understand this dynamic behavior and the possible consequences. In addition, the study concluded that Chile is a very privatized country which is important to consider when applying Building with Nature into coastal projects. The privatization has the consequence that a substantial amount of stakeholders need to be involved in the projects also funding can be a challenge.

In general, the conclusion can be drawn that there is lack of information on the coastal characteristics in Chile. More data needs to be conducted to implement trustworthy Building with Nature designs. Additionally, one could state that there is a communication gap between the governmental parties as the Dirección de Obras Portuarias and Ministerio de Obras Públicas and the local parties involved in coastal projects. This is important to solve, as these parties needs to be involved in all coastal projects. Another outcome of the case studies is the absence of an environmental vision for most of the initiated coastal projects investigated and the absence of a long term vision of coastal management.

Meeting with various engineering consultancy firms showed the presence of a strong incentive to enlarge the consciousness on the environmental and societal aspects in Chile, and the ambition for a more co-creative and multidisciplinary design approach. Arcadis Chile has shown interest to establish a platform to introduce the Building with Nature approach in Chile. Together with the Universidad de Valparaíso, Arcadis Chile can be the initiator for the implementation of the philosophy and the increase of awareness among other important actors in the water sector.