Ecoengineering

Ecoengineering is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to integrate ecological knowledge and processes into engineering design and practice. It aims to reduce environmental harm, support the functioning of ecosystems, and enhance ecosystem services through engineered systems. The discipline draws on ecology, civil and environmental engineering, landscape architecture, and sustainability science to create solutions that work with natural processes rather than against them.

Key approaches include nature-based solutions, green infrastructure, ecological restoration, and bioinspired design. Techniques such as bioswales, permeable pavements, living shorelines, constructed wetlands, and green roofs are used to manage water, reduce heat, and provide habitat while delivering climate and resilience benefits. In water and land management, ecoengineering often seeks to reconnect hydrological or ecological processes—such as restoring floodplains, reestablishing riparian habitats, or designing energy systems that mimic natural cycles.

Assessment in ecoengineering emphasizes life-cycle analysis and the valuation of ecosystem services. Monitoring and adaptive management are commonly incorporated to track ecological responses and adjust project designs.

Applications span urban drainage, coastal protection, watershed restoration, and infrastructure development that integrates ecological aims with safety and functionality. While overlapping with environmental engineering and ecological restoration, ecoengineering emphasizes preventive design, maintenance of ecosystem integrity, and the use of natural processes as part of engineered systems.