Stevens Institute of Technology has formed a strategic partnership with Langan Engineering & Environmental Services to provide expertise related to flood mapping and deliver engineering solutions to help protect coastlines and urban areas threatened by sea level rise. Stevens is home to the Center for Maritime Systems, which focuses on assessing, predicting and mitigating the damage of natural and man-made disasters to coasts.
David Gockel, president and chief executive officer of Langan said the group is “honored to partner with Stevens Institute of Technology, a world-leader in maritime engineering, as well as coastal and oceanographic studies — scientific disciplines that are incredibly important as we rebuild from [Hurricane] Sandy and work to protect our cities and critical infrastructure from other natural disasters.”
Since Sandy caused unprecedented damage to the New York metropolitan region, Stevens faculty and Langan leaders have conferred about the many technical issues affecting real estate and development projects in the area.
“Sea level rise is a real threat to waterfront property owners and future development along rivers, oceans and bays,” Gockel said. “ Together, we look forward to advancing our collective knowledge on this subject and to designing solutions to help our clients, friends and neighbors.”
“This alliance provides the perfect synergy between a leading academic institution and a professional consulting firm,” said Michael Bruno, dean of the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science at Stevens. “Both Langan and Stevens recognize the incontrovertible evidence that novel engineering is needed if we are to preserve our way of life while ultimately respecting the larger natural environment.”
PHOTO: Point Pleasant Beach, N.J. boardwalk post-Hurricane Sandy. Photo by Jennifer Quail.