Proper technologies are suggested to help accelerate coral growth, survival, and resistance to environmental stresses such as high temperatures. Delta teams up with scientists to develop an innovative solution for coral restoration. We integrate LED lighting and industrial automation to create a high-efficiency coral farming system for coral growth. We also make use of the high-resolution micro-CT scanning system to support the establishment of the database for endangered coral calcium carbonate skeletons.

LED Lighting

Delta offers a comprehensive range of LED lighting products and system integration services. The product portfolio includes various high-efficiency drivers, lighting solutions for commercial and industrial applications, as well as intelligent street lighting products. Building on its extensive experiences in developing Smart Farm solution, which adopts LED lighting systems to create ideal conditions for each stage of plant growth, Delta has introduced the mature technology and applied it to coral restoration.

Scientists currently find the particular spectrums of red, blue, white, and color temperature are potentially helpful to the growth of heat-tolerant corals. The white light functions as the moonlight, which helps regulate corals' living patterns. The blue light facilitates the secretion of calcium carbonate skeleton by polyps. The red light stimulates symbiotic algae to produce nutrients for corals.

In regions with colder water temperatures and limited sunlight, corals exhibit slower growth during the winter months. The LED lighting systems are adopted to support the restoration in the regions. As of 2022, we had made over 1,000 coral fragments with multiple species being fostered to receive the stimulus of LED lighting. The science-based statistics have shown that these batches of corals grow faster compared to their counterparts in the seas. 

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)

The programmable logic controller (PLC) is a digital computer-based control system renowned for its user-friendly storing procedures, handy extending principles, and various functions such as sequential/position control, timed counting, and input/output control. These features find extensive application in the realm of industrial automation control.

Such industrial automation technology plays a pivotal role in coral restoration progress, as it effectively adjusts the light spectrum to cater to the specific growth phases and requirements of corals.

Micro Computed Tomography (Micro CT)

Delta's Micro Computed Tomography (Micro CT) is a non-destructive, high-resolution 3D X-ray imaging system. Its application extends to various research fields, including ex vivo biological samples and specimens from geological, archaeological, paleontological, material science, food science, etc. With a pixel size that can reach as small as 1 μm, this technology excels at reconstructing the detailed internal structure and generating cross-sectional views from any angle without harming the samples, saving research lead time and effort significantly.

Beyond its applications in diverse research fields, Delta's Micro CT emerges as a vital contributor to coral restoration efforts. Focusing on the protection of endangered native coral species in Taiwan, such as Turbinaria reniformis, Galaxea astreata, and Pavona cactus, as recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Delta together with scientists employ the Micro CT to generate high-resolution images at 1μm precision and establish an extensive database of calcium carbonate skeletons for these vulnerable coral species. This database will serve as a crucial part of enhancing the restoration of these precious corals.