Geological and Geotechnical Engineering in the New Millennium Opportunities for Research and Technological Innovation (2006) / Chapter Skim
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6 Findings and Recommendations
6 Findings and Recommendations
Pages 173-182
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From page 173... ...
GES is an approach to sustainable development of our infrastructure and resources. The third category relates to changes in interdisciplinary research and education necessary to ensure that a diverse workforce is able to apply new tools and technologies to new applications of geoengineering.
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From page 174... ...
6.1 KNOWLEDGE GAPS AND NEW TOOLS Finding The committee finds that significant knowledge gaps continue to challenge the practice of geoengineering, especially the ability to charac terize the subsurface; account for time effects; understand biogeochemical processes in soils and rocks; stabilize soils and rocks; use enhanced computing, information, and communication technologies; and under stand geomaterials in extreme environments (see Chapter 2 for the full list of knowledge gaps)
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From page 175... ...
Pilot projects in vertical integration of research between multiple disciplines -- perhaps including industry, multiple government agencies, and multiple universities-should be explored as alternatives to more traditional interdisciplinary proposals. New technology -- already available or under development -- promises exciting new possibilities for geoengineering.
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From page 176... ...
The second is to provide funding for new equipment for the adaptation and development of emerging technologies for geoengineering applications. The NSF Geomechanics and Geohazards Program should emphasize application of biotechnology, nanotechnology, MEMS, and information technology to geoengineering in its annual Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
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From page 177... ...
Sustainable development provides a new paradigm for geoengineering practice, in which the tools, techniques, and scientific advances of multiple disciplines are brought to bear on ever more complex problems. Geoengineering has made significant progress since 1989 in addressing societal needs.
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From page 178... ...
Recommendation NSF program directors should coordinate GES research and devel opment efforts with other agencies by developing a GES roundtable, sharing and jointly archiving information, and leveraging through cofunded projects. The committee recommends that a workshop be organized to wrestle with the issue of engaging geoengineers in public policy initiatives on GES and sustainable development.
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From page 179... ...
· Encourage communication among researchers through principal investigator workshops where principal investigators describe their current NSF-funded work. NSF should also require timely dissemination and sharing of experimental data and analytical models using the protocols and data dictionaries being developed for the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES)
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From page 180... ...
· Conduct a critical evaluation of existing collaboratories and develop criteria for evaluation of collaboratory proposals, includ ing consideration of the relative merit of funding a collaboratory versus funding individual and small-group research. Finding A more diverse workforce in terms of educational background, technical expertise, and application domains, as well as more traditional measures of diversity, is required to bring a broad range of cultural understanding, skills, knowledge, and practice to bear on complex geoengineering problems.
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From page 181... ...
NSF should leverage research funding to engage design and consulting engineers in geoengineering research and development activities. Proposal evaluation criteria could include credit for matching funds and in-kind services from industry, or some portion of available research funds could be dedicated to projects with matching industry support.
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From page 182... ...
There is real potential for break throughs and there are exciting opportunities for geoengineers if they become involved in biotechnology, nanotechnology and advances infor mation technology. New solutions to persistent traditional problems can be obtained with these new nontraditional technologies.
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