SBIR Phase II: A nature-based nearshore floating infrastructure solution for coastal adaptation

SBIR 第二阶段项目的更广泛影响是帮助管理沿海城市的环境变化。目前，沿海基础设施社区在支持生态健康和基于社区的共同效益的有效解决方案方面存在差距，而不是传统的灰色基础设施（例如海堤、护堤或结构化填充物）。该项目通过新颖的全面实验性实施可靠且持久的浮动生物质模块网络来解决这一差距，以保护沿海地区。拟议的项目开发了一种动态的、注重细节的科学方法和技术模型。该项目将展示植被生物质模块的互连锚定网络如何抑制波浪能、吸收水污染物并为沿海城市创造一个有吸引力的社区空间。拟议的SBIR第二期项目的技术创新是：（A）一种基于生物质和活植物的适航浮动模块的新材料工程方法，锚定在六边形阵列中并相互连接； (B) 完整的数值预测建模套件，用于模拟大型此类模块网络的生物地球化学效应、流体动力网络效应和流体动力效应； (C) 一个功能齐全的原型网络，用于研究物理行为和影响。该项目由五个独立的实验目标组成：(1) 广泛的单元原型设计、重新设计和监测，以评估制造商材料和生物行为随时间的变化，(2) 对单个单元和网络影响的生态监测，从而开发预测性生物地球化学模型，(3) 将物理波浪池实验室结果转化为预测性沿海环境模拟模型，(4) 全尺寸实验网络原型的水动力分析，以及 (5) 开发大规模生产和部署的技术方法。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并已被通过使用基金会的智力优点和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this SBIR Phase II project is to help manage environmental change in coastal cities. Currently, a gap exists in the coastal infrastructure community for an effective solution that supports ecological health and community-based co-benefits over traditional gray infrastructure, such as seawalls, berms, or structured fill. This project addresses that gap through a novel full-scale experimental implementation of a reliable and durable network of floating biomass-based modules for coastal protection. The proposed project develops a dynamic, detail-oriented scientific approach and technical modeling. This project will demonstrate how an interconnected, anchored network of vegetated biomass modules can dampen wave energy, absorb water pollutants, and create an engaging community space for coastal cities.The technical innovations of the proposed SBIR Phase II project are: (A) a new material engineering approach for seaworthy floating modules based on biomass and living plants, anchored in a hexagonal array and interconnected; (B) a full numerical predictive modeling suite to simulate biogeochemical effects, fluid dynamic network effects, and hydrodynamic effects of large such networks of modules; and (C) a fully functional prototype network to study physical behavior and effects. This project consists of five separate experimental objectives: (1) extensive unit prototyping, redesign and monitoring to assess manufacturer material and biological behavior over time, (2) ecological monitoring of individual unit and network impacts leading to the development of a predictive biogeochemical model, (3) translation of physical wave tank lab results into a predictive coastal environment simulation model, (4) hydrodynamic analysis of a full-scale experimental network prototype, and (5) development of technical methods for production and deployment at scale.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.