As world population explodes from seven to nine billion over the next few decades, and demand for food, clean air and clean water intensifies, sustainable natural infrastructure (forests, prairies, agricultural lands, coastal landscapes and wetlands) will become even more critical.

Caterpillar is taking a proactive global leadership role, advocating sustainable natural infrastructure on projects like the restoration of the New Jersey shoreline.

When Superstorm Sandy crashed into the Jersey shore, it caused unprecedented devastation, stripping beach widths by 30 to 40 feet and inflicting over $30 billion in damage. Shortly thereafter, Hurricane Joaquin struck the shore causing further damage. Then earlier this year, winter storm Janos struck, once again wreaking havoc on the Jersey shore.

A massive, multi-million dollar Army Corps of Engineers project to restore the beach and the natural infrastructure has been ongoing since shortly after Sandy subsided.

At the forefront of this extensive beach restoration effort is Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD), a premier global dredging company founded in 1890 with headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States. GLDD provides dredging and marine engineering services that shape the living environments and transportation resources of communities, including America’s largest cities and busiest ports.