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(2014/02/09) Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering
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Program

3.7.1. Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Systems Program

3.7.1.1. Intro

The SRIS program, launched in fall 2011, addresses emerging approaches to infrastructure systems focusing

on resiliency and sustainability of interconnected infrastructure--for example, structural, geotechnical and

water interactions in urban environments. The program aims to prepare new generations of civil engineers
who are ready to address pressing societal issues while developing needed infrastructure. For example, stu-

dents will be able to use system level approaches and thinking to achieve sustainable use of material and re-

sources in construction of engineered systems. Students will learn to balance short-term costs of facility de-

velopment and the need for integrating this facility within an infrastructure system that is resilient to natural
and human-made disasters.

The cross-cutting program in SRIS is intended to foster collaborations and leadership in holistically plan-

ning, designing, and managing sustainable and resilient infrastructure systems and their interactions. Here

the term “sustainable” refers to the Brundtland Commission’s definition of a sustainable society as one that
meets the needs of the present without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Ena-

bling this broad vision requires that CEE practitioners holistically consider the environmental, economic, and

social impacts of their work on local, regional, and global systems.

The term “infrastructure systems” is used in its broadest sense, encompassing both built infrastructure (buil-

dings, roads, bridges, pipe networks, treatment facilities, etc.) and infrastructure services that rely on integra-

ted built and natural systems to provide fundamental needs of society. The term “resilient” refers to the abili-

ty of such infrastructure systems (including their interconnected ecosystems and social systems) to absorb
disturbance and still retain their basic function and structural capacity.

The SRIS program enables graduate students with interest in integrated research, education and practice to

obtain cross-disciplinary M.S. and Ph.D. Civil Engineering degrees. The program also seeks to stimulate re-
search amongst areas working as multi-disciplinary groups, leading to cross-disciplinary projects that address

critical societal problems. The program strives to enhance the undergraduate and graduate CEE curricula in

terms of increasing the integrated course offerings and ensuring the success of the SRIS undergraduate pri-

mary specialty area. View the undergraduate handbook (PDF).

Research interests of the SRIS faculty include:

• Planning and management of sustainable and resilient transportation systems

• Renewable energy supply and logistics

• Reliable network design under the risk of service disruptions

• Sustainable urban underground structures development,

• Earthquake resiliency and interaction of above and below ground urban infrastructure.

• Real-time monitoring, optimization and control of infrastructure systems.

• Multiscale data and model synthesis for improved decision support

• Green infrastructure design to meet social, economic, and environmental objectives

• Resilience and sustainability modeling of interdependent infrastructural systems

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