EWN PROVING GROUNDS

EWN PROVING GROUND DISTRICTS

NNBF | STUDY

Status: Completed


Engineering With Nature® (EWN) is a program led by the US Army Corps of Engineers' Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). EWN focuses on the "intentional alignment of natural and engineering processes to efficiently and sustainably deliver economic, environmental, and social benefits through collaborative efforts." For this study, a team of engineers and landscape architects was tasked by USACE ERDC to work with Proving Ground districts along the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, and Great Lakes—collectively known as the four coastal regions—to identify opportunities and design natural and nature-based infrastructure (NNBF) to advance new EWN initiatives within these areas.

EWN aims for "triple-win" outcomes, systematically integrating social, environmental, and economic considerations into every phase of project decision-making and implementation. This approach seeks to achieve innovative, resilient solutions that are socially acceptable, viable, equitable, and sustainable. In the Four Coasts project, landscape architects have collaborated with engineers from Anchor QEA to ensure that all concepts are grounded in sound engineering principles. This collaboration has enabled the development of unique infrastructure solutions through an iterative process of concept development, technical assessment, and refinement. The engineers contribute a precise, analytical perspective focused on quantifiable values, while the landscape architects incorporate cultural and environmental considerations. This partnership fosters a holistic approach to developing and visualizing EWN design concepts.

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Client:  US Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineer Research and Development Center (USACE ERDC)

Collaborators:
  • Anchor QEA, Inc.
  • Dredge Research Collaborative
  • Auburn University
  • University of Virginia
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • USACE San Francisco District
  • USACE Mobile District
  • USACE Philadelphia District
  • USACE Buffalo District
  • USACE Chicago District
  • USACE Detroit District


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