Futures Forum: The Infrastructure Bill: "Infrastructure isn’t just about pouring concrete... It’s essential that we see infrastructure as a means to an end, not as an end in itself."
Futures Forum: How sustainable is the construction industry? ... 'Concrete is responsible for 7-10% of CO2 emissions' ... 'The industry must shift its emphasis beyond recycling and towards reuse'
There is 'infrastructure' and subsidizing corporate 'economies of scale':
Futures Forum: Decentralized Manufacturing
Futures Forum: We are all truck-drivers now ... The free movement of goods, increased carbon emissions and the destruction of manufacturing industry
Which is largely the 'infrastructure' of roads:
Futures Forum: Subsidies and social engineering: or why we build roads.
Futures Forum: Investing in roads in East Devon: who pays ... and who benefits?
And there is 'infrastructure' in East Devon:
Futures Forum: "You can't take the politics out of infrastructure planning"
Futures Forum: What transport infrastructure do we want for East Devon?
Futures Forum: Cranbrook shortlisted for an 'infrastructure' award by planning professionals >>> but "Towns such as Cranbrook are becoming dormitories and commuter belts for 'Greater Exeter' – meaning many people must take to their cars in East Devon to get to their jobs in Exeter."
Here is an intelligent look at the different approaches to building infrastructure:
Green and Gray: Understanding the Shades of Resilient Infrastructure
Coastal communities around the country are looking for cost-effective ways to increase their resilience (to sea level rise, coastal erosion and flooding, changes to coastal habitats, etc.), Green infrastructure is proving to be a viable management option for saving money and preserving habitat. Gray infrastructure, however, is still the focus of many resilience programs. More recently, researchers are starting to explore combined gray and green, or “hybrid” infrastructure management options. To better understand what this all means I have compiled a list of key resources in this area of interest.
Green infrastructure refers to the use of plants and water to perform ecosystems services. This white paper explains how green infrastructure can benefit water, land, and air resource systems while offering co-benefits to the community, like flood protection and native species habitat. While more work needs to be done to quantify the cost and value of green infrastructure options, early findings show that they offer low cost options to communities looking to improve their resilience. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put together a great set of resources for those looking to learn more. Here you can find tools for designing, financing, and maintaining different types of green infrastructure.
Gray infrastructure refers to the use of concrete and steel to support community operations. This community resilience guide describes the value of the “built environment” and offers a six step approach to gray infrastructure planning and management for long-term community resilience. It can be very costly to build, maintain, and/or relocate gray infrastructure (like culverts, sea walls, and roads), so communities are looking for creative ways to improve their resilienceand manage the important built environment.
Hybrid infrastructure combines green and gray management options in an effort to optimize community resilience to a range of environmental and community hazards. This paper describes how green infrastructure and combinations of green-gray infrastructure are highly effective for improving coastal community resilience, but they explain that more work needs to be done to quantify and assess the usage and value of combined green-gray options.
In the end, coastal communities are looking to find creative and cost-saving ways to improve their resilience to the array of coastal hazards they face. Therefore, interest in green infrastructure and combined green-gray, or “hybrid” options is on the rise. The resources linked here provide a foundation for understanding the direction of this area of interest.
Resilience Roots - Linking social and ecological resources in a changing world
See also:
Futures Forum: Climate Week in Sidmouth: TOURFISH: Making Coastal Communities Resilient >>> Wednesday 9th March >>> >>> "Responsible Tourism and Blue Economic Growth"
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