The Institute for Water Resources is offering this grant to advance Natural Resources Management, develop Smart Sensing Technologies for infrastructure, and assess Economic Impacts.

Disclosures of current and pending support made in this application may render an applicant ineligible for funding. Prior to award and throughout the period of performance, ERDC may continue to request updated continuing and pending support information, which will be reviewed and may result in discontinuation of funding.

Religious organizations are entitled to compete on equal footing with secular organizations for Federal financial assistance as described in E.O. 13798, “Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty.”

Natural Resources Management and Management of Recreation Resources

Collaborate with key USACE personnel on recreation resources, environmental stewardship resources, and visitation data. Work will support recreation and environmental stewardship business line activities, including but not limited to maintaining and updating USACE spatial data inventory for recreational facilities, operational condition assessment for recreation facilities, analyzing datasets both internal and external for environmental factors such as invasive species and development pressure, and other needs as identified. When requested, provide written documentation of research findings, implications for USACE missions, and potential methods of implementation within USACE.

Road Condition Monitoring and Trails Management

Develop Smart Sensing Technologies (i.e., camera-based, thermal imagining, laser-based, and ground penetrating radar) for assessing road conditions (hard surface and gravel/dirt) including predicting the potential for future integrity issues. Develop other technologies and strategies for implementation of the best strategies given the type and nature of the diverse USACE road systems. Develop similar technologies and strategies for assessing the USACE network of multi-use trail systems (nature trails, hiking, equestrian, biking, etc.). Research and develop data collection methodologies for such data.

Value to the Nation (Economics)

USACE NRM Programs have impacts on local and regional economies as well as the national economy. Assessing these impacts (both positive and negative) and developing methodologies for quantifying these impacts are needed to ensure the impacts and contributions of the NRM programs to the nation (in terms of economics) are clearly understood and articulated to a wide range of audiences.