Engineering Design of Natural and Hybrid Infrastructure
ENVE 8320
3 hours
Engineering Design of Natural and Hybrid Infrastructure
Course Description
Natural and hybrid infrastructure engineering design concepts and their applications in riverine and coastal settings to water resources, transportation, flood protection, coastal defenses, and other engineered systems. Practical implementation of engineering and ecological design principles to enhance infrastructure performance, efficiency, and benefits across economic, environmental, and social dimensions.
Athena Title
Natural Infr Design
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to define HNI and understand its relationship with ASCE policies, standards, and initiatives.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to understand current and relevant concepts, principles, guidance, and standards for engineering design of HNI.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to design hybrid and natural infrastructure systems (HNI) that enhance resilience to flooding, drought, extreme heat, and wildfire in riverine and coastal environments.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to understand design principles for real-world HNI infrastructure projects with application to transportation, coastal storm protection, water resources, and other infrastructure systems.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to develop the capacity to contribute as a productive and effective team member on large-scale HNI projects by garnering knowledge and skills in interdisciplinary collaboration, planning, and engineering design.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to understand pre-construction engineering design with the broader planning process for large scale civil works projects that utilize HNI.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to identify pragmatic and specific examples of how HNI can be intentionally co-designed to work together with and strengthen conventional infrastructure for system-scale benefits.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to garner an understanding of approaches for designing climate resilient infrastructure and systems, including risk and uncertainty.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have an introductory understanding of Federal and State regulations that apply to the deployment of HNI.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have an improved speaking, writing, and critical thinking skills in the context of interdisciplinary water and environmental management issues.
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will understand the importance of engineering judgment and managing uncertainty in the design of HNI.
Topical Outline
Week 1: Overview of hybrid and natural infrastructure (HNI) design context and existing engineering guidance
Week 2: Engineering design principles and practices for HNI
Week 3: Hydrology, hydraulics, and soils for HNI Pt 1 – upland and riverine systems
Week 4: Hydrology, hydraulics, and soils for HNI Pt 1 – coastal systems
Week 5: Vegetation-hydrodynamic-soil relations – fundamentals, tools, and applications
Week 6: Engineering guidance and standards for HNI design
Week 7: Site prioritization, selection, and investigation across spatial scales; Multi-criteria decision analysis
Week 8: Modeling for design of HNI systems – tools, applications
Week 9: Risk analysis, uncertainty, and reliability of HNI designs
Week 10: HNI design applications for flood and erosion protection systems – Pt 1 riverine systems
Week 11: HNI design applications for flood and erosion protection systems – Pt 2 coastal systems
Week 12: HNI design applications for transportation systems
Week 13: HNI design applications for water systems (stormwater, drinking water, resource water)
Week 14: HNI operations and maintenance, life cycle, benefits evaluation
Week 15: Tracking performance of HNI systems – monitoring and adaptive management
Week 16: Synthesis and wrap-up, prospectus for Engineering With Nature, natural infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and hybrid infrastructure systems
