Product Life Cycle Planning

Abstract

Abstract : Regional Sediment Management (RSM) refers to the effective use of littoral, estuarine, and riverine sediment resources in an environ-mentally effective and economical manner. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages lands and waterways across the United States. The Corps' use of RSM concepts will significantly improve the its mission accomplishment. As part of that mission, Corps engineers and scientists develop new technologies to make management decisions more accurate and efficient. Simultaneously, they evaluate RSM concepts through demonstration projects that highlight and improve sediment management activities. This phase of work was undertaken to: (1) provide guidelines, technical support, and planning approaches for researchers that result in realistic life cycle plans for products emerging from the RSM research program; (2) focus the RSM program community of interest on the planned outcomes of the RSM investment, and the infusion of these outcomes into District operations; (3) identify and resolve bar-riers to successful technology infusion; (4) develop approaches and metrics for measuring technology infusion success and processes for making post-infusion adjustments to improve this success, (5) facilitate successful technology transfer beyond USACE. The concepts proposed here are intended to improve life cycle planning from USACE research investments.