As we kick off a new year, I am delighted to take on the role of COPRI President. I’d first like to give a huge thanks to our past president, Steve Balint, P.E., D.OE, F.ASCE, for all his work to start some great initiatives last year, and I’m excited to keep that momentum going while working with each one of you through COPRI’s unique committees and professional and student chapters.
There is a lot to look forward to in 2022. With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the nation is committing to its largest investment in infrastructure in nearly a century. Funding and policy provisions in the IIJA provide engineers, especially in the COPRI disciplines, with the funding and policy needed to design and construct resilient port, coastal, and inland-navigation infrastructure.
ASCE has been leading the call for legislation like IIJA and has created a one-stop shop for members to understand and track implementation of the law’s many provisions, including port and inland navigation. In addition, COPRI is hosting a lunch-and-learn program online next month with Travis Black and Kirk Clausen from the U.S. Maritime Administration, to discuss the port infrastructure grant programs.
I’d also like to highlight a new COPRI initiative this year called the COPRI Research Fund (CRF). The fund is intended to advance civil engineering knowledge and practice in the COPRI disciplines, particularly to improve codes and standards with the most recent climate data and projections. As we see effects of sea level rise and climate change shaping our designs and planning, we have a unique opportunity to promote resilience in the Civil Engineering profession, and I’m excited to see how this fund shapes future developments in codes, standards, and advancing the state of the practice. We welcome submissions of proposals as well as statements of research needs, which can be submitted to [email protected].
Finally, after two years without in person meetings, I am looking forward to seeing you at one of COPRI’s conference this year: in May, we’ll be at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas; PORTS ’22 will be held September 18–21 in Honolulu, Hawaii; and the 37th International Conference on Coastal Engineering (ICCE), planned for December 4–9 in Sydney, Australia. These events provide a chance to see the latest innovations and advances in ocean, port, and coastal engineering technology and best practices. Beyond these exciting events, we have many opportunities for continuing education and lunch-and-learn webinars throughout the year.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or ideas for this upcoming year. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with you all and looking forward to a terrific year.
Tori Tomiczek, Ph.D, A.M.ASCE
COPRI President