Spotlight Shines on CEE's Dr. Gerry Galloway's Expertise

Galloway is among engineers and scientists recommending river reconnection to prevent flooding disasters.

In the December 11 issue of Science, five scientists and engineers including CEE’s Dr Gerry Galloway, recommend converting certain areas, now protected from low level flooding, into natural flood in order to prevent flooding disasters that are normally the result of levee-breaks and other failures of existing infrastructure. This floodplain reconnection will help alleviate the consequences of flooding when it occurs by encouraging flood-tolerant land uses in the floodplain areas and by providing more areas for water to go when rivers crest. In the article, the researchers suggest methods for negotiating the political and economic roadblocks that must be overcome to implement their plan and provide a case study of a successful floodplain reconnection.

(Source: University Communications/UMD)

On another note, Dr. Galloway, Research Professor and Glenn L. Martin Institute Professor of Engineering, was recently selected to serve on the Disasters Roundtable of the National Academies. This roundtable is a collection of respected experts in various fields from all over the nation. Members serve a three year term and facilitate an exchange of ideas and problem-solving skills in various arenas, such as, geotech and water resources engineering.

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(Source: Georgia Tech School of Civil Engineering)

Published December 22, 2009