Infrastructure

The human-built systems that undergird our society and make life possible at modern standards of living - this is infrastructure. From transportation systems to energy, water, wastewater, communication, healthcare systems, and more, these critical systems provide the services we rely on as citizens to be available as a common good.

Getting Started

What are the challenges our society faces in terms of its infrastructure? How do these challenges impact our ability to survive and prosper, both as a species and as a member of the community of beings on Earth?

  • Every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers releases an evaluation of the state the nation’s infrastructure systems in terms of condition and repair needs. The most recent report, released in 2021, had average grade of C-.

  • Developed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, Envision is a quantitative rating system that can be used to evaluate and guide the development of infrastructure projects to ensure that they are being built to meet human needs in the most sustainable way possible. The criteria provide an excellent overview of what it means for an infrastructure system to be sustainable.

  • The National Academy of Engineering has identified 14 grand challenges they believe are “game-changing goals for improving life on the planet”. Multiple challenges on this list involve improving current infrastructure systems or developing new technologies to replace current infrastructure.