Taylor Makana Caster, E.I.T.

Hawai‘i Kai Marina and Entrance Channel Maintenance Dredging, Honolulu, Hawai‘i — Served as project engineer leading project management, estimating, and reporting efforts for the contractor’s dredging efforts, as well as conducting hydrographic progress surveys. Also worked with the engineer of record providing professional engineering services primarily including hydrographic surveying, dredge plan design, and environmental compliance and management of three upland dredged material placement sites within the marina. Additional services included conducting soil and sediment investigations, assisting with marine benthic surveys, designing beach nourishment, supporting construction management, and managing overall environmental compliance related to erosion and sediment control.

Portlock Beach, Beneficial Reuse of Dredged Material and Beach Nourishment, Honolulu, Hawai‘i — Provided engineering support for the development and execution of a dredging project within the entrance channel to the Hawai‘i Kai Marina on Oahu, Hawai‘i. The project involved restoring navigable depths within the entrance channel and beneficially reusing the dredged sediment as a source for beach nourishment at the adjacent Portlock Beach. Provided engineering support for geological site investigations, topographic and hydrographic surveys, engineering design, state and federal permitting, environmental compliance, and construction management aspects of the project.

Evaluation of Nature-Based Shoreline Stabilization in Saipan Lagoon, Northern Mariana Islands — Provided engineering support for the development of nature-based approaches to shoreline stabilization within Saipan Lagoon, located off the west coast of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. This engineering support included participating in design team meetings, engaging with stakeholders, assisting with the development of conceptual design alternatives and a project master plan, organizing site investigation data and creating reference maps, and identifying and mapping civil infrastructure within the project area. Also developed a sediment investigation dive plan for identifying sources of beach quality sand in several areas offshore of Saipan Lagoon.

Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor Dredging, Kikiaola, Kauai, Hawai‘i — This project involved dredging sediment from the Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor and transferring it to a nearby upland disposal site. Served as the sole project engineer for this project, preparing the project bid estimate and bid submittals, as well as all pre- and postconstruction submittals required throughout the project. Navigated complex submittal requirements, delivering construction plans, schedules, environmental compliance plans, and health and safety plans, among others. Performed numerous hydrographic progress surveys throughout the project, consistently completing these surveys within a single day including round-trip travel from Honolulu. Also processed and presented the survey data in progress reports.

Black Pot Beach Dredging and Flood Damage Mitigation, Hanalei, Kauai, Hawai‘i — For a project involving emergency repairs to Black Pot Beach on the island of Kauai following catastrophic flooding, served as the project engineer preparing the project bid estimate and bid submittals, as well as all pre- and postconstruction submittals required throughout the project. Performed multiple topographic surveys in a challenging “disaster”-type environment, and worked closely with county officials to expedite the project to the extent possible. Project objectives were refined and changed as the project progressed based on available resources, changing site conditions, and community input.

Improvements to the Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i Marina, Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawai‘i — Served as the sole project engineer a project involving the installation of a precast concrete wave attenuator and floating docks, their support piles, and two boat ramps in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawai‘i. Prepared all pre- and postconstruction submittals required throughout the project. Provided onsite construction support using a total station to stake-out pile, dock, and boat ramp installation locations, and directly assisted with pile-driving operations to achieve specified elevations within tolerance. Also coordinated with plumbing, electrical, and specialty subcontractors and suppliers for utility connections and dock accessories.

Congressional Report on Coastal Shoreline Erosion, American Samoa, Guam, Hawai‘i, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands — Worked alongside a team of national experts to evaluate hazards associated with sea level rise and coastal erosion to road infrastructure located within U.S. Island jurisdictions.

Evaluating the Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health and Medical Infrastructure, Ocracoke Island, North Carolina — Provided engineering support to evaluate the impacts of coastal hazard to public health and medical infrastructure on the barrier island community of Ocracoke, North Carolina. Collected extensive information about existing climate risks, critical infrastructure, and medical resources, and assisted with historical research and community outreach. Coauthored the final report, which included detailed analyses of existing climate and health risks, as well as mitigation strategies and funding opportunities for their implementation.

Assessment of Health Vulnerability to Climate Change in the Florida Keys, Florida — Assisted in the collection of extensive information about existing climate risks, infrastructure, and medical resources throughout the Keys in support of this project investigating the impacts of climate change to public health across the Florida Keys. Coauthored the final report, which provided a detailed analysis of existing climate and health risks.

Climate Change Tool for Island Communities, Nationwide — Supported the development of a new web-based tool to assess the level of preparedness and vulnerability to climate change for island communities at the healthcare facility level. Users of the tool are presented with questions that relate to climate change hazards, social vulnerability, health vulnerability and preparedness, and facility or community vulnerability and preparedness. These inputs are then used to estimate the climate change hazard risk based on an equation that incorporates hazard probability, severity, vulnerability level, and preparedness level. Results are presented in summary graphs that plot the overall climate hazard risk as well as the individual components of vulnerability and preparedness. A second output page provides resilience strategies that are tailored to the site-specific information gathered by the tool.

Pearl Harbor Sediment Remediation, Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawai‘i — Briefly served as a project engineer on this project, involving various sediment remediation activities within Pearl Harbor. Led a project development team that developed novel techniques to apply a granular activated-carbon material under piers using a pneumatic aggregate conveyor. Also led the bid estimate, which included these novel remediation activities as well as dredging, sand placement, and dredged material disposal. Provided GPS and dredge tracking system design and installation on multiple barges and vessels for the project.

Residential Grading and Stormwater Control Projects, Oahu, Hawai‘i — Provided civil engineering services for several residential grading and stormwater control projects on the island of Oahu. Services included preparing grading and stormwater design, developing erosion and sediment control plans, and collecting topographic data by both conventional survey methods and by utilizing unmanned aerial vehicle surveys with photogrammetry data processing.

Residential Individual Wastewater System Projects, Oahu, Hawai‘i — Provided civil engineering services for several residential individual wastewater system projects on the island of Oahu. Services included conducting historical research of existing systems, inspecting existing systems, performing soil infiltration testing, and assisting with design and permitting.