The Rhode Island Foundation has recognized a Warwick couple for their bold idea for improving life in Rhode Island. 

Andrew Trench and Kyla Coburn were selected as finalists for the $300,000 Rhode Island Innovation Fellowships. The grants are made possible through the vision and generosity of philanthropists Letitia and John Carter. 

“We recognize our finalists for their ambitious strategies for addressing challenges and creating change in Rhode Island,” Neil Steinberg, the foundation’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “We are appreciative of Letitia and John Carter’s devotion to Rhode Island and are pleased to play a role in transforming their dreams into one of our boldest initiatives.”

 Now in its fourth year, the program is designed to stimulate solutions by Rhode Islanders to Rhode Island challenges. The proposal from Trench and Coburn was one of just five selected as a finalist from more than 350 applications.

“Letitia and I applaud each of the applicants on their talent, ambition and commitment to our state. We look forward to seeing the constructive change they generate,” said John Carter.

Trench proposed building RI3D, a publicly accessible 3D library of the state’s environmental and historical treasures where students, artists, architects and engineers can work with the most advanced mapping technologies and preserve existing landmarks in a digital time capsule.

“‘Maps’ for our children will be nothing like those our parents knew.  We live in a digital era where now we can quickly measure, three-dimensionally render and virtually experience our world and then remotely access the information from anywhere,” said Trench.

“Rhode Island is rich in important sites that are valuable for many sectors of our community, and intelligent technologies have given us new tools to preserve them.  We can access previously unreachable places, build unprecedented accurate models and share these large files on the internet.  RI3D will be a hub, library and archive of modern ‘maps’ where Rhode Islanders can download the 3D models of our state, gain access to new technologies, and collaborate,” he added.

The proposal would collect data using laser identification detection and ranging scanners on ground-based stabilized gimbals and aerial drones. This highly detailed point-cloud data would be used by developers to budget and monitor construction; by architects to plan and render buildings; by governments to inspect infrastructure; by scientists to monitor invasive species and coastlines; and by students to gain exposure to advanced technologies that will soon be standard in professional workflows.

“Each year, billions of dollars and miles of coastal property is at risk from erosion and storms. Bringing new technologies into daily use can be slow for governments and institutions, but investing in advancement will pay off for our state,” said Coburn.

 “With emergent technology we can now map10 acres, in under 30 minutes, producing centimeter accurate and measurable 3D point-cloud models. This means an ability to cut the enormous expense of wasted manpower, to safely inspect our infrastructure including bridges, power-lines, and turbines, and get extremely accurate information immediately, onsite, without stopping work,” she said.

In addition to recognizing Trench, Coburn and their co-applicant Peter Haas of Providence and the other four finalists, the Foundation awarded two applicants – John Haley and the husband and wife team of Daniel Kamil and Emily Steffian – $300,000 grants over three years.

Haley proposes to stimulate the state’s shellfish industry by creating a more reliable method of obtaining blue mussel seed stock fixed to a rope-like cord. He will manufacture a Blue Mussel Spat Attachment Cord, pre-loaded with blue shell mussel larva – called “spat” – made available to shellfish cultivators year-round.

Kamil and Steffian will launch the Providence Cinematheque, Rhode Island’s only multi-screen exhibition space and educational facility focusing on first-run, independent film programming; repertory series, film festivals and a curriculum in film history and media literacy.

This was the Fellowship initiative’s fourth round of funding. Previous rounds generated more than 950 applications.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island.  In 2014, the Foundation awarded $34.8 million in grants to organizations addressing the most pressing issues and needs of the state’s diverse communities. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit rifoundation.org.