This five-year, $1.39 million project grant from the National Science Foundation's Office of Integrative Activities will fund research towards developing climate-resilient water infrastructure in Alaska Native communities. Funded under the Geosciences program, which supports basic research in the earth sciences, this collaborative project will address challenges at the intersection of social, engineered, and natural systems impacting water security.
A multidisciplinary team from the University of Texas at Austin will work with Alaska Native community members, leaders, and utilities to co-develop monitoring systems and soil characterization models informing the design of pipelines resilient to permafrost thaw. Knowledge co-production methods will identify cultural perspectives to integrate into engineering. A wireless sensor network and leak detection techniques will monitor infrastructure performance. Outreach will train community members and raise awareness of water issues. Ultimately, this research aims to address the nearly 80% of interviewed residents citing pipe leaks as affecting their quality of life by developing adaptive infrastructure solutions.