Course Description
Concepts, theories, and applications of natural and hybrid infrastructure at multiple scales, including the site level, watershed, and regional scales. Innovative use of natural processes and systems to increase infrastructure performance, efficiency, and benefits (social, environmental, and economic) in upland, riverine, and coastal settings with application to water, transportation, flood protection, and urban systems.
Athena Title
Fund Natural Infras
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to develop the capacity to serve as a productive and effective member of an interdisciplinary project delivery team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives for a large-scale natural infrastructure project.
- Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to define natural infrastructure (NI), nature-based solutions (NBS), and Engineering With Nature® (EWN).
- Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to apply standard mathematical and computational models used to plan and analyze natural infrastructure.
- Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to understand the planning process for large scale civil works projects that utilize nature-based solutions.
- Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to understand current guidance and processes in the development of engineered natural infrastructure.
- Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have a familiarity with planning and implementation processes for natural and hybrid infrastructure projects in upland, riverine, and coastal settings.
- Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to identify pragmatic and specific examples of how natural infrastructure can be intentionally co-designed to work together with and strengthen conventional infrastructure.
- Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to perform risk and uncertainty analysis for climate resilient infrastructure.
- Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to understand some of the Federal and State regulations that apply to the deployment of natural infrastructure.
- Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have improved speaking, writing, and critical thinking skills in the context of interdisciplinary infrastructure resilience, water resources, and environmental management issues.
Topical Outline
- Week 1: Overview of natural and hybrid infrastructure context
- Week 2: Historical and conceptual foundation for NI and NBS
- Week 3: NI for Flood and Erosion Management
- Week 4: NI for Flood and Erosion Management
- Week 5: NI for Flood and Erosion Management
- Week 6: NI for Wildfire, Heat, and Drought
- Week 7: NI for Water Quality Management
- Week 8: NI in Transportation (including roadways and navigation)
- Week 9: NI for Agriculture
- Week 10: NI for Climate mitigation
- Week 11: Urban planning, design, architecture (e.g., living buildings)
- Week 12: Engaging communities and stakeholders (Equity) in implementing NI
- Week 13: Economics – benefits, costs, and the value case for NI
- Week 14: Planning and Design Concepts for NI
- Week 15: Monitoring and Adaptive Management of NI projects
- Week 16: Student Project Presentations
