Developing Natural and Nature-Based Features Based on Engineering With Nature® (EWN) and Landscape Architecture Principles for Project Locations Identified within, or in close proximity to, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Description

Background: Engineering With Nature® (EWN) is the intentional alignment of natural and engineering processes to efficiently and sustainably deliver economic, environmental and social benefits through collaborative processes. In turn, sustainable development of water resources infrastructure is supported by solutions that beneficially integrate engineering and natural systems. With recent advances in the fields of engineering and ecology, there is an opportunity to combine these fields of practice into a single collaborative and cost-effective approach for infrastructure development and environmental management. For more information, please visit: www.engineeringwithnature.org. The EWN Initiative is also working to expand opportunities for application of natural and nature-based features (NNBF) by advancing R&D, technology transfer, stakeholder engagement and collaborative projects. NNBF can be differentiated into two categories: natural features and nature-based features. Natural features (e.g., a wetland system) are comparatively “long-standing” in terms of age and created through the action of natural physical, biological, and chemical processes over time. Whereas, nature-based features are created by human design, engineering and construction to mimic natural features that provide similar, if not identical, services (Bridges et al., 2015). This project seeks a partner institution in the Chesapeake Watershed Region to identify opportunities and develop concepts for NNBF based on EWN and landscape architecture (LA) principles for project locations in, or in close proximity to, the Chesapeake Watershed that contain a variety of different land uses. During each year of funding, one project location will be collaboratively identified, selected and pursued for research with the collaborative team, which also consists of EWN researchers. In turn, one or more projects sites will be identified for each project location. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: Required Work Objectives: The following objectives are required for this CESU-funded project, which is to identify opportunities and develop concepts for innovative natural and nature-based features (NNBF) based on EWN and landscape architecture (LA) principles. Year one (1) will establish the initial structure of the project and includes tasks that support the following objectives. Upon completion of Objectives 1-3, the successful academic institution will develop a report that documents the selected project location and include a summary of the EWN strategies and NNBF that were identified, considered and/or ultimately recommended during the research effort. The report will also include information explaining the concepts and their limits, and the potential effects and/or implications of implementing NNBF strategies to restore, manage, and/or preserve select project locations in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and more broadly. LA drawings and renderings, which illustrate the different types of EWN strategies and NNBF, will also be produced and shared with the EWN leadership team at the conclusion of the study. If funded, year two (2) and year (3) would continue to expand major elements of the research project and build a diverse portfolio of collaborative EWN projects and engagements. Objective 1: Collaboratively Identify Project Locations for Analysis and Collect Best Available Data and materials. This objective prioritizes initial research activities that are focused on the collection of existing data sets and materials on cultural and environmental conditions related to the selected project locations. Activities associated with Objective 1 will include the following: (i) characterization of the physical qualities of landscapes at a regional scale from existing datasets including wave environment, geomorphology, topobathy, habitat, and relative sea level rise; (ii) a high-level inventory of cultural landscapes features such as historical landmarks, archaeological sites, and other elements that contribute to the cultural significance of the units; (iii) contemporary and projected visitation patterns will also be documented; (iv) existing relevant datasets and reports will be identified, collected and reviewed including climate adaptation in and around the project location within a proposed watershed; and (v) a review of the most recent scientific literature pertaining to SLR and marsh migration in the Chesapeake Bay. Objective 2: Analysis of materials and data sets and documentation of relevant precedents. This objective will pursue the analysis of materials and datasets obtained through Objective 1 and pursue documentation of relevant precedents. During this analysis, the team will identify and prioritize one or more project sites (i.e., possible placement locations for NNBF and/or hybrid features) for the selected project location during the research period. Precedent research guided by analysis will identify innovative and inclusive NNBF concepts. An atlas in the form of a series of maps and visual precedent studies will inform the analysis and ultimately the prioritization of NNBF strategies that receive further consideration as part of Objective 3. Objective 3: Development of three NNBF concepts and designs for a project location. Working in collaboration with the team, up to three NNBF concepts will be developed for the selected project location. These concepts will draw on the landscape architecture + EWN approach using quantitative and qualitative research methods such as physical and digital wave modeling, archival research, scenario planning, and design projection depicting the landscape concepts. These concepts will be offered in a clear and compelling manner that communicates the ideas to the stakeholders and broader public. A successful application would likely include experience with Engineering With Nature®, natural infrastructure design/placement, development and implementation of nature-based strategies and natural and nature-based features (NNBF), incorporating human-use benefits into infrastructure projects, physical and digital wave modeling, archival research, scenario planning, and design projection depicting the landscape concepts

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