UF lands $7.5 million grant to map treacherous tidal mudflats for faster rescues, military missions

Every year, emergency crews and even trained military teams risk getting stuck — or worse — while crossing vast, muddy coastal areas known as tidal mudflats. In places like Anchorage, Alaska, the mud can trap people so deeply that rescues are nearly impossible. These environments are unpredictable, dangerous and largely unmapped. 

Now, a team led by University of Florida civil and coastal engineering professor Nina Stark is launching a $7.5 million research project to help change that. Funded by the Office of Naval Research, the project brings together experts from five universities across the U.S. using satellite imagery, field sensors and hovercraft technology to map which areas are safe to walk, drive or boat across, and when. 

The goal is to support faster, safer military operations and emergency rescues while deepening scientists’ understanding of these shifting, muddy landscapes across the U.S. coastline. 

“A vital piece of this research is measuring the geomechanical properties of muddy tidal flats — such as their hardness or softness, and how they change over time and space,” Stark explained. “This will help us map out the safe navigation of these areas, which has been a major challenge for research, recreational, commercial and military activities.”  

Tidal mudflats pose serious risks, as people can get stuck or sometimes die trying to cross them. Researchers will be working in different latitudes, from warm to cold regions, to understand how conditions vary. 

The team includes scientists from the University of Florida, University of New Hampshire, Oregon State University, University of Texas and University of Alaska Anchorage. Together, they’re combining knowledge from several fields — like engineering, ocean science, and ecology — to solve real-world problems. 

One part of the project includes using a new hovercraft that allows researchers to safely reach soft, muddy areas to collect important data. The hovercraft will enable crucial field measurements of geotechnical, geochemical, biological and oceanographic conditions across multiple sites and latitudes. 

Stark is working closely with the UF Center for Coastal Solutions, where experienced field experts are helping with training and ensuring safety during field work. Currently, the team is finalizing its selection of primary field sites across the country and preparing for its first major data collection on muddy tidal flats in Cedar Key this winter.