13-17 January 2025 | Gulf Shores, AL
Advancing Coastal Engineering through Technology Transfer
Ensuring that the latest research and development (R&D) in coastal engineering reaches field practitioners is essential for addressing our nation’s most pressing coastal challenges. Technology transfer—the process of moving innovation from the lab to the field—is a critical component of the R&D process, empowering USACE personnel with the most advanced tools and knowledge available.
ERDC Experts Lead Discussions at the SAD Coastal Summit
From January 13-17, 2025, approximately 200 experts from across the USACE South Atlantic Division (SAD), USACE Headquarters, and the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) gathered in Gulf Shores, Alabama, for the SAD Coastal Summit. The event provided a key opportunity to build technical expertise and develop innovative solutions for vital program areas including Coastal Navigation, Flood Risk Management (FRM), and Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM).
The summit directly supported the USACE Campaign Plan by fostering collaboration and sharing valuable “lessons learned” from a wide range of projects. ERDC researchers were major contributors, leading presentations and discussions on numerous topics, including:
- “Testing Requirements: What is Needed?”: Presented by Al Kennedy (ERDC-EL) and Alan Shirey (USACE Charleston District), this session addressed crucial testing requirements.
- “Advancing the Science and Practice of Beneficial Use (BU) in Coastal New Jersey and Beyond”: This presentation by Dave Perkey (ERDC-CHL) and Monica Chasten (USACE Philadelphia District) highlighted innovations in the beneficial use of dredged sediment.
- “Water Quality Monitoring: What does it mean?”: Led by Al Kennedy and Andrew McQueen, both of ERDC-EL, this session provided an in-depth look at water quality monitoring.
- Overviews of the latest Civil Works R&D
- Demonstrations of existing, in-development, and future coastal tools
- Best practices for alternative dredging methods.
In addition to formal presentations, ERDC experts hosted “Ask the Experts” tables, offering hands-on demonstrations of tools like the SandSnap app and discussing the performance metrics of nature-based solutions.
Building Institutional Knowledge for Resilient Coastlines
The SAD Coastal Summit served as a powerful platform for technology transfer, allowing ERDC scientists and engineers to share their latest work and receive direct feedback from field practitioners. By showcasing existing and upcoming R&D products, particularly to newer employees, the event helps increase the institutional knowledge of best practices across USACE. This collaborative approach ensures that the entire coastal management community is better equipped to implement innovative and effective solutions, strengthening our nation’s coastlines.
