<Li> Due to the shape of the island right outside the coast of Dubai, there is loss of coastal shape along the seashore of Dubai . </Li> <P> Installation of utilities and pipelines were very difficult and laborious . </P> <P> To counteract with the waves and the constant motion of the sea, breakwaters were built all around the island . They were 3 meters high and 160 kilometers in total length . Expanded over a length of about 11.5 kilometers, the base of these breakwaters and the island itself were constantly monitored during construction process with the help of deep sea divers . The divers checked the alignment and placement of the rocks beneath the surface to ensure its stability . Shape of the island was monitored using the global positioning system (the satellite was placed about 676 kilometres from sea level into space). The sand on top of the island was sprayed by a technique called rainbowing . Here the sand from the dredging ships was sprayed on to the land . The whole island was planned such that there was no stagnant water between the island and the breakwaters . In order to achieve this, small structural modifications were made to the breakwaters that surrounded the island, allowing the sea water to move through the breakers without causing any damage to the island . To prevent erosion of the sand from the island, maintenance systems spray material along the coast of the island and also along the Dubai coast . Coastal ecology was recovered with the help of nature itself . These changes began attracting newer species of fishes and also reef formations . Every 6 weeks sea divers go down under water to check the marine life as part of their monitoring process . Precautions were also taken to prevent the process of liquifaction of the sand on the island (below the upper surface). This process of liquifaction was caused by the movement of the rocks and sand and also underwater erosion before and after construction . A Vibro - compaction technique was used to prevent the process of liquifaction . This was carried out in order to hold the island's base together and also to make a strong foundation for further construction . </P> <P> The construction of the Palm islands along the coast of Dubai has caused several large environmental changes: a reduction in the area's aquatic life, erosion of the coastal soil, and irregular sediment transport along the shore . There is also a dramatic change in wave patterns along the coast of Dubai due to the rock walls constructed around the palm islands: instead of hitting the shores directly, the waves move in an unusual manner around the new obstruction . This has led to the weakening of the shores of Dubai . </P>

The real story behind dubai's palm islands