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APPLIED RESEARCH PRIORITIES
Pages 9-28

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From page 9...
... 1. PARTNERSHIPS FOR EQUITABLE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT Targeted equitable public infrastructure investments can generate enormous community benefits in terms of reducing disparities in the quality of and access to services before and after hazard events.
From page 10...
... Based on the presentations, examples, and research opportunities discussed in the workshop, as well as on discussions with the Resilient America Roundtable and among the committee members, the committee identified the following applied research questions regarding partnerships for knowledge transfer and promoting action research for equitable infrastructure services and access: ● How can applied research on resilient and equitable infrastructure services and access be advanced using participatory action research concepts and principles where the process begins and ends with local communities? ● What are compensation models that value local expertise and how can they be modified to enable greater community participation by those affected by inequitable infrastructure services and access so as not to create additional undue burden on marginalized community members?
From page 11...
... . The coalition's plan identified 5 key principles that may interest applied researchers investigating equitable and resilient infrastructure investments: 1.
From page 12...
... Based on the presentations, examples, and research opportunities discussed in this workshop, the committee identified the following applied research questions pertaining to trust as it related to equitable and resilient infrastructure development: ● What role does trust play in the development and provision of resilient and equitable infrastructure? ● What role does trust play in the recovery of functions and services of resilient and equitable infrastructure?
From page 13...
... These pilot projects, while an important first step, are insufficient to stimulate the systemic change required to address the complex challenges of social injustice and inequitable provision of infrastructure introduced by climate change. During the process of reaching consensus, the committee identified six areas of research that would inform institutional efforts to put equity at the center of their infrastructure investments: systemic change, resilience hubs, community resilience planning, integrated multibenefit solutions, interdependence of built and natural environments, and minimum code requirements.
From page 14...
... . Based on the presentations, examples, and research opportunities discussed in this workshop, the committee identified the following applied research questions regarding systemic change and equitable infrastructure investments: ● What models of system change are most useful for institutions to achieve equitable infrastructure investments?
From page 15...
... These holistic approaches can contribute to strengthening relationships and trust required for effective year-round, disaster, and recovery modes. Based on the presentations, examples, and research opportunities discussed in this workshop, the committee identified the following applied research questions on the topic of resilience hubs: ● What are the policy and regulatory barriers in different states and jurisdictions that limit resilience hub deployment, and how may these be overcome?
From page 16...
... Focus areas may include, for example: − Historically underinvested areas − Rural areas and tribal communities − Places with limited clean energy ● How do we create replicable community engagement strategies for resilience hub design and shift decision-making to those most affected by disasters? Many of the applied research questions addressed in other subsections of this report -- including, for example, trust and benefit-cost analyses -- could be framed to address resilience hubs, and the findings from resilience hubs research can be used to help inform broader analyses in these topic areas.
From page 17...
... These frameworks have emerged both as a methodology to study community resilience and as a decision support tool for disaster and adaptation planning. However, reviews by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
From page 18...
... Actions taken once the disaster strikes (ex post) cannot reduce property damage, but they can reduce business interruption.
From page 19...
... . However, policy makers often give precedence to infrastructure because many infrastructure services, especially electricity and water, are considered community lifelines that are needed for survival (FEMA, 2019)
From page 20...
... In addition, mitigation and recovery processes related to hazard threats need to consider underrepresented groups and underserved communities. Based on the presentations, examples, and research opportunities discussed in this workshop, the committee identified the following applied research questions pertaining to community resilience planning: ● What are the negative compounding outcomes that stunt the recovery process and require resource reallocation by communities?
From page 21...
... ● How can we understand and build resilient transportation infrastructure as integral systems that meet the needs of communities in a comprehensive manner and with decisions based on not only mobility but also safety, accessibility, walkability, drainage, resource conservation, and health benefit? In addition, the committee noted several factors that would enable community resilience: ● Provide communities with examples of successful community resilience planning and recovery, especially those that encourage public participation and inclusiveness, including accessibility; resilience planning should be co-created with communities.
From page 22...
... ● What systems-based models can be integrated into infrastructure investments to better understand local values, map assets, and identify alternatives? ● How do we broaden project-funding streams to ensure that they can provide multiple community benefits?
From page 23...
... . Based on the presentations, examples, and research opportunities discussed in this workshop, the committee identified the following applied research questions pertaining to the interdependence of the built and natural environments as they relate to equitable and resilient infrastructure investments: ● How can we investigate, understand, and apply function and design relationships between neighborhood housing and access to natural areas and open space?
From page 24...
... Based on the presentations, examples, and research opportunities discussed in this workshop, the committee identified the following applied research questions pertaining to minimum building codes as they related to equitable and resilient infrastructure investment: ● What do states and communities need to understand the value of adopting and administering code and standards as a foundational aspect of short- and long-term economic benefits and resilient infrastructure with reduced damage and losses? ● What incentives exist to encourage communities to specify requirements beyond code -minimum performance?
From page 25...
... 3. INNOVATIONS IN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS Traditionally, public funds finance infrastructure investments, but public deficits, the inability of the public sector to deliver efficient investment spending, and a lack of political will have in many communities led to governments reducing the level of public funds they allocate to infrastructure.
From page 26...
... Innovation in not only how these funds are invested but also how these funds drive equitable and climate-resilient outcomes will be critical. Based on the presentations, examples, and research opportunities discussed in this workshop, the committee identified the following applied research questions pertaining to innovative financing for equitable infrastructure development.
From page 27...
... . As applied to infrastructure funding, benefit-cost analysis can on occasion lead to inequitable outcomes, which can include discounting future generations and inappropriately valuing or omitting non-monetizable community values, such as public health, community ownership, or resilience when that is not the primary objective (see Box 7)
From page 28...
... For example, the multi-benefit solutions discussed in an earlier section of this report would require a more inclusive benefit-cost framework than is frequently used for investment decisions. Based on the presentations, examples, and research opportunities discussed in this workshop, the committee identified the following applied research questions pertaining to benefit-cost analysis as applied to resilient and equitable infrastructure development: ● How can we include distributional considerations in benefit-cost analysis to analyze equity, social justice, and other broad societal goals?


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