Realizing Multiple Benefits in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Baltimore District Dredging Projects through Application of Engineering With Nature (R) Principles
Abstract
PURPOSE: The application of Engineering With Nature (EWN) principles at existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) dredging and navigation projects is increasing. This technical note (TN) documents four USACE Baltimore District (NAB) projects that successfully applied EWN principles. BACKGROUND: Advancing best practices within the USACE involves identifying actions that can be taken to better align and integrate engineering and natural systems to produce more socially acceptable, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable projects. EWN is a USACE initiative that supports more sustainable practices, projects, and outcomes by working to intentionally align natural and engineering processes to efficiently and sustainably deliver economic, environmental and social benefits through collaborative processes (Bridges et al. 2014; Gerhardt-Smith and Banks 2014). The EWN initiative focuses on developing practical methods to provide an ecosystem approach to navigation infrastructure development and operations that is applicable across multiple USACE missions and business lines. Projects demonstrating EWN principles illustrate the use of science and engineering to maximize natural processes to produce practical operational efficiencies that support substantiated economic, social, and environmental benefits while continuing to meet project needs. A critical aspect of EWN is science-based collaborative processes to organize and focus interests, stakeholders, and partners to produce more broadly acceptable projects (www.engineeringwithnature.org). Developing sustainable and resilient infrastructure requires the USACE to apply new approaches to engineering and operating infrastructure. The EWN program is developing and demonstrating, through multiple projects, the capabilities that are needed to achieve sustainable project outcomes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 12, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1067538
Entities
People
- Andrew D McQueen
- Burton C Suedel
- Danielle M. Szimanski
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center