Thursday, Nov 06, 2025 • Brian Lopez : Contact

Along the Texas coast, where small towns meet rapid industrial growth and rising tides, communities are working to balance prosperity with preservation.

Two researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington are helping them do just that—combining science, design and public engagement to build smarter, more resilient coastal cities.

Through UT Arlington’s Smart Coast Initiative, Michelle Hummel, associate professor of civil engineering, and Oswald Jenewein, associate professor of architecture, lead a multidisciplinary team that brings together engineering, architecture, planning, computer science and policy to tackle challenges such as flooding, erosion, industrial expansion and air and water quality.

“Our goal is to understand how industrial growth and climate change are affecting people’s daily lives and to co-create solutions that help the region remain resilient for the next 50 to 100 years,” Dr. Hummel said. “That means using technology and design in ways that put communities first.”

From classroom to coastline

What began as a small collaboration between two early career faculty members has evolved into a major research enterprise supported by more than $2.5 million in federal and state funding.

Over the past six years, the Smart Coast Initiative has brought more than 150 UTA students to the Texas Coastal Bend—a region in the southern part of the state that forms a curve along the Gulf Coast, centered on Corpus Christi—for hands-on research and community projects. Working alongside local leaders, environmental groups and residents, students help collect data, design adaptive infrastructure and propose policy-based solutions to strengthen coastal resilience.

Related: UTA leads effort to help homes withstand hurricanes

“We believe in engaged classrooms and experiential learning,” Dr. Jenewein said. “When students step off campus and talk directly with residents and decision-makers, they see the real impact of what we teach and study.”

Tracking change with community technology

A cornerstone of the team’s current project is a low-cost sensor network that measures air and water quality across the Coastal Bend. Residents volunteer to host and maintain the sensors, while UTA researchers provide technical support and analysis. The data feeds into a web-based dashboard that displays near-real-time environmental conditions in local neighborhoods.

By combining community data with regulatory and satellite sources, the researchers are creating a clearer picture of how climate and industry shape daily life along the coast—and empowering both residents and policymakers to act.

Related: UTA researchers tackle Texas coastal bend challenges

“People can make better choices about their health and environment when they can actually see what’s happening in their area,” Hummel said. “This technology turns data into something people can use.”

A vision for 2050 and beyond

In September 2025, the team hosted the inaugural Smart Coast Summit in Corpus Christi, bringing together more than 50 community leaders, policymakers and researchers to begin shaping a “Coastal Bend Vision 2050.”

The summit focused on infrastructure, technology, emergency management and environmental policy, and even featured a keynote speaker from the Netherlands, home to one of the world’s most advanced coastal management systems. The event also highlighted the partnership between the Port of Corpus Christi and the Port of Rotterdam, drawing parallels between South Texas and other low-lying coastal regions around the world.

“Our work is about connecting people—across disciplines, across communities and even across continents,” Jenewein said. “By learning from each other, we can build a stronger, more sustainable future for the Texas coast.”

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

Celebrating its 130^th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.