The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program and Lever for Change announced on Tuesday a research team from the University of Florida and the University of Texas at Austin as one of 10 finalists for the $50 million Gulf Futures Challenge.
The UF/UT team’s AMERICA project explores a new approach to seawalls using natural materials engineered precisely to benefit the marine ecosystem and protect people and infrastructure from storms. The project offers an alternative to traditional concrete-based seawalls by integrating architected materials — engineered structures designed to mimic natural habitats — with additive manufacturing (3D printing) and autonomous construction technologies.