How iFLUX supports tidal marsh restoration in the Bankbusters project

In the Scheldt estuary, tidal marshes are under constant pressure from erosion, resulting from strong wave action and harsh environmental conditions. Yet their importance cannot be overstated – tidal marshes provide crucial ecosystem services, from flood protection to water quality improvement, carbon storage, and biodiversity support.

The Bankbusters project-tackles this challenge head-on. In collaboration with DEME, Jan De Nul, the Universities of Antwerp and Ghent (UAntwerp and UGent), and funded by Blauwe Cluster and VLAIO, the project explores innovative solution: using fine dredged sediments to restore and strengthen tidal marshes. But restoration is only the beginning. The real question is: how do we know if it's working?

This is where iFLUX comes in. As coordinator of the groundwater monitoring for Bankbusters, iFLUX deployed a real-time sensor network that transforms an invisible process – groundwater movement – into actionable insights.

Smart monitoring for resilient ecosystems

iFLUX installed groundwater flux sensors that measure how water moves horizontally through the marsh. This horizontal flow is a key indicator of drainage capacity. Drainage is crucial for the marsh to facilitate vegetation development and water quality improvement.

But groundwater flow is just one piece of the puzzle. The iFLUX monitoring system tracks:

• Soil moisture content – revealing how the marsh responds to tidal cycles and weather patterns
• Groundwater levels – providing context for tidal influences
• Real-time visual data – through a camera system that captures the dynamic tidal processes

All sensors record data every 20 or 30 minutes, transmitting it wirelessly to a central platform where it's visualized on a dashboard. This creates a complete, real-time picture of how the marsh is developing.

The continuous monitoring has already revealed fascinating patterns in marsh dynamics. 

The integrated approach also tracks vegetation development, sedimentation, and erosion processes, and even initial soil compaction in the months following installation.

Why does this matter for nature conservation?

The Bankbusters monitoring setup demonstrates what makes iFLUX uniquely valuable for nature-based projects:

• Evidence-based conservation strategies – By mapping groundwater quantity and quality dynamics in real time, we provide the data needed to design effective ecosystem-based solutions.
• Early warning systems – Tracking changes in soil moisture can indicate potential threats to the ecosystem before they become critical.
• Long-term adaptation – Continuous monitoring of groundwater trends allows conservation strategies to evolve alongside changing environmental conditions.
• Validated restoration approaches – The data proves whether restored marshes are delivering the ecosystem services we expect, comparing them against reference marshes nearby.

Building climate resilience through innovation

This isn't just research – it's an operational management system designed to support the long-term exploitation of nature-based flood protection schemes.

Rising seas, climate change, and increasing flood risk pose global challenges. Ecosystem-based flood management will be crucial for the future, but designing these solutions requires deep understanding of how natural systems work.

What are the drainage capacities of marshlands? How do they evolve over time? Which conditions help them thrive? How does groundwater flow through the system?

These are the questions that groundwater monitoring can answer. By making the invisible visible, iFLUX empowers conservation efforts with the data needed to protect both people and ecosystems.