NSF R2I2: Advancing Green Infrastructure for a Resilient Future

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $500,000 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

The cascading societal, economic, and ecological consequences of extreme weather across the Northeast highlight the urgent need for resilient urban planning. Nature-based solutions (NBS), including scalable green infrastructure (GI) interventions like meadows, woodlands, rain gardens, and bioswales, offer a promising pathway to mitigate urban heat, manage stormwater, improve water quality, stabilize slopes, and enhance ecosystem services and resilience. Allegheny County, home to Pittsburgh, PA, over 1.2 million people, and multiple municipalities is a mixture of urban and suburban communities that can consider different types of GI. For a GI initiative to get traction at scale, the solutions must recognize and address the needs, concerns, priorities, and perceived barriers of communities in which the work will be done. The project will apply real-time methods to improve GI implementation, maintenance, and monitoring practices. This Northeast region project will convene a broad group of stakeholders with expertise in hydrological systems, stormwater engineering, community engagement, land management, and education to develop an Allegheny County-wide green infrastructure (GI) adoption and installation plan that will address stormwater runoff, water quality, urban heat and carbon sequestration. The goals of the project are to prioritize and monitor GI installations, engage and support municipalities and advance GI education and outreach. These goals are to build toward

Key facts

NSF award ID
2519658
Awardee
Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
SAM.gov UEI
U3NKNFLNQ613
PI
Sarah L States
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
INTERDISCIPLINARY PROPOSALS
Estimated total
$500,000
Funds obligated
$500,000
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
09/01/2025 → 08/31/2027