Professor Todd Bridges, Professor of Practice in resilient and sustainable systems in the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia, USA, and Past Chair PIANC International Environmental Commission, speaks on the topic of ‘Leading Transformation for Nature positive Infrastructure and Resilient ports.’ at the PIANC APAC Conference of August 2026, held in Brisbane.
Prof Bridges said his 40 minute presentation could be summarised in one line. “We must change the way the way we deliver infrastructure projects, we must!”
“We have been guided since the modern environmental movement by the idea of minimizing our harm as we develop infrastructure. That’s no longer sufficient. That’s a slow walk to death.”
As climate pressures intensify and infrastructure systems face growing uncertainty, engineers must deliver solutions that are technically robust, environmentally sustainable, and socially beneficial.
“We’re here because we’re engaged in navigation of port infrastructure. These are just some statistics. We’re generally familiar with the trend that we’re experiencing, have been for the last few decades. 80% of our international trade moves on the seas. Here’s some latest numbers from the UN. 12 billion metric tons [were shipped] in 2024. That’s a staggering number and it’s growing by 2% a year. We have 116,000 merchant vessels in the global fleet today. That’s 2.5 billion tons in dead weight.
And the increase has been roughly 30% of increase in the number of total vessels and an 80% increase in dead weight tons in the last 10 to 15 years. By 2050 the demand for port handling areas could increase by two to four times. ..”
Listen to the 40 min presentation.
Video available here on PIANC YouTube channel
About the Speaker
Professor of Practice in Resilient and Sustainable Systems at the University of Georgia and a Senior Scientist with Environmental Science Associates.
Dr Todd Bridges is a Professor of Practice in Resilient and Sustainable Systems at the University of Georgia and a Senior Scientist with Environmental Science Associates. He previously spent 30 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including 17 years as the Army’s Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science. Dr Bridges founded the Engineering With Nature® program and has led over $250 million in research. He has authored more than 100 publications and received a Distinguished Presidential Rank Award in 2021.
