RII Track-1: Adaptive and Resilient Infrastructures driven by Social Equity (ARISE)

University Of Kansas Center For Research Inc, Lawrence KS

Investigators

Abstract

The Adaptive and Resilient Infrastructures driven by Social Equity (ARISE) project will develop resilience analysis and tools for decision makers and community leaders to transform how communities invest in and manage physical and human infrastructure. ARISE research aims to innovate and transform how communities in Kansas consider resilience in the face of hazards and disasters. Communities vary significantly between urban and rural settings in Kansas. Differences include social and economic needs; varying access to water, energy, and transportation; infrastructure conditions and investments; and natural hazards, such as floodplains. Community resources or capitals can help a community overcome, withstand, and recover from different disasters and hazards in the short and long term. ARISE research includes extensive community engagement, community engaged research, and education and outreach components. The ARISE project will increase research, education, and training capacity in data science, machine learning, complex network modeling, decision and risk management science, and social equity. This project will also develop the foundation for “smart” communities and cities while creating new industries that retain highly qualified Kansas professionals. ARISE will be administered by the University of Kansas in collaboration with Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Baker University, Donnelly College, and seven Kansas community colleges. The Adaptive and Resilient Infrastructures driven by Social Equity (ARISE) project is framed around four research themes. Theme 1 focuses on understanding community capital measurements and interdependent infrastructure systems; Theme 2 develops an evaluation framework; Theme 3 considers four case studies for hypothesis testing; and Theme 4 integrates research into decision-lever case studies and decision support tools. ARISE will build academic research capacity in Kansas for technology-enabled “smart and resilient” infrastructure research to transform rural communities that typically are not considered in “smart cities” research. The project seeks to re-examine resilience frameworks, policy, and tools with consideration of the heterogeneity across and within urban and rural communities in Kansas. ARISE will examine the relationship between disasters, resources, and community capitals and will develop a stochastic hetero-functional, graph-theoretic framework for understanding interdependent human and physical infrastructures. ARISE research is integrated with capacity building and outreach activities including interdisciplinary summer research experiences for undergraduates, partnerships with museums and libraries to promote youth and family STEM engagement, and workforce development programs for municipal planners and utility operators. The project will enable researchers and educators to be at the forefront of the resilience science and engineering arena, leading to enhanced research capacity in Kansas. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.