Kennesaw State secures GDOT funding for bridge scour modeling research

Kennesaw State University said Tien Yee and Jie Zhang have received $200,000 from the Georgia Department of Transportation for a two-year research project focused on bridge scour modeling.

The university announced the funding on May 18, 2026, saying the work will improve two-dimensional scour modeling and produce best practices and guidance for engineers in Georgia. The project is housed within KSU's Georgia Traffic and Pavement Research Center.

Bridge scour is the erosion of soil around bridge foundations, a transportation safety issue because it can affect the stability of bridge structures. GDOT's bridge program includes inspection and maintenance responsibilities for bridges across the state.

Kennesaw State's announcement says the project is intended to help standardize how scour is modeled and applied in practice. The university's SPCEET awards page also lists the same $200,000 GDOT project under the title Best Practices and Guidance on 2-Dimensional Scour Modeling for Georgia.