Sound Environmental and Socio-Culturally Appropriate Designs for Arctic Infrastructure
Importance and Relevance
Short construction season
Alaska’s short construction season demands rapid, efficient, and reliable building methods to maximize the limited time available.
High costs of importing materials
Importing construction commodities to remote Alaskan locations incurs significant costs. Our focus on using locally sourced materials helps mitigate these expenses and supports local economies.
Lack of skilled construction workers
The scarcity of skilled labor in remote and rural areas highlights the need for automation to maintain high standards of construction quality and efficiency.
Severe climate conditions
Extreme cold temperatures and permafrost present unique challenges that require robust, innovative construction techniques to ensure durability and performance.
Remote communities
Many Alaskan communities are isolated, making traditional construction methods impractical. Our lab provides ways to deliver high-quality infrastructure without the need for extensive external support.
Climate change
Increasingly severe weather patterns, including floods and erosion, along with permafrost instability due to climate change, necessitate adaptive and resilient construction approaches.
