Research Insights

As the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) continues to bolster the development and deployment of nature-based infrastructure solutions, the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems (IRIS) at the University of Georgia proposes to expand its capacity to conduct applied research in conjunction with a broader set of installations and enhance its research operations to address issues identified through this partner engagement. This work will further the shared mission of ERDC and IRIS to work with military installations and adjacent communities to build stronger, more resilient military and civilian communities better capable of fulfilling the military’s mission through the use of Engineering With Nature® (EWN). EWN focuses on using nature-based solutions (NBS) to fulfill engineering objectives such as reducing flood and erosion damages, protecting critical infrastructure, promoting navigation, and securing safe and ample water supplies. The natural systems utilized within NBS include river floodplains, forested water supply watersheds, freshwater and coastal wetlands, dunes and beach systems, living shorelines and reef structures, among other elements. These systems may be used independently, or in conjunction with more traditional infrastructure elements such as dams, sea walls, or levees. Using NBS can often more equitably and effectively provide infrastructure services compared to traditional systems, while also providing additional social, ecological, and community benefits. EWN is advancing the use of NBS by catalyzing technical scientific and engineering advances in conjunction with other fields, including environmental science, ecology, and the social sciences, to develop a collaborative, equitable, and cost-effective approach to infrastructure planning, design, and implementation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) continues to advance EWN principles with cutting edge research, education, and training through the creation of the Network for Engineering With Nature (N-EWN) jointly with IRIS. Recognizing this demand for additional research and data to promote resilience through EWN, IRIS proposes to expand its work both geographically and in the scope of services it provides. Building on its innovative and novel engagement strategies, IRIS will expand the number of installations that participate in the network to develop applied research questions that address their specific resilience needs, create and fund training programs in collaboration with ERDC for installation planners and engineers to learn to utilize the results of this research to further principles of EWN and resilient design and to inform local military and civilian resilience planning and infrastructure design.

Funder: U.S. Department of Army 

Amount: $5,484,643 

PI: Brian Bledsoe, College of Engineering