The Complex Geography of Underground Infrastructures: Implications for Collaborative Public Services

Keywords: underground infrastructure, community engagement, resilience, natural hazards, urban public services
Session Type: Virtual Poster Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 02:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 03:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 49

Abstract

Infrastructure in general is largely seen as the means to delivering public services, e.g., energy, water, transportation, and communication. Many facilities that comprise these infrastructures are underground and are physically and functionally complex given interconnections among them and the very restricted spaces they occupy, especially in urban areas. The interaction between underground environments and physical infrastructure characteristics often presents vulnerabilities to hazards such as hurricanes, other storms, and intense precipitation and flooding, often impacting the sustainability and resilience of infrastructure services. Given these complexities, community engagement among numerous providers and users is key to achieving resilient urban services related to underground infrastructure. A collaboration framework for underground infrastructure systems is presented and analyzed using focus group and survey techniques to better understand the benefits and challenges of stakeholder engagement for resilient underground infrastructure. Collaborations are integrated with models for combining infrastructure databases: Geographic Information Systems, a Model for Underground Data Definition and Integration (MUDDI), a Digital Twin, components including Building Information Management, Critical Infrastructure Response Information System, Homeland Infrastructure Foundation Level Data, and Subsurface Utility Engineering in two NYC study areas with contrasting population diversity. These approaches support analyzing infrastructure interconnectivity and collaborations. This is an NSF supported project at New York University, “SCC-CIVIC-FA Track B UNUM: Unification for Underground resilience Measures” (NSF #2133356). The research team consists of NYU faculty and research staff joined by collaborators from government agencies, engineering associations, utilities, business groups, and community groups. Website: https://wp.nyu.edu/unum/; Email: unumcivic@gmail.com.