Design and Operation of Integrated Infrastructure Systems

In the next decade, countries will spend trillions of dollars on built infrastructure, the effect of which is to preserve our isolated infrastructure systems status quo. Regulatory bodies like Public Utility Commissions (PUC) have unintentionally institutionalized this effect, with sometimes disastrous results, when in fact these isolated systems interact in ways that create new opportunities and new challenges. Infrastructure can be made more flexible and resilient but only when we know how to design, interconnect, and operate urban systems as an integrated whole, and when quality of life is the explicit motivation. These systems include Energy, Transportation, Communication, Water, Air, Green Space and Geophysical systems.This class will introduce the basics of current infrastructure systems and explore in greater depth how these systems can be integrated in design and in operations. During the first half of the quarter, class lectures and guest speakers will develop the principles of infrastructure design and operations. The focus of the second half of the quarter will be directed student research to explore in greater detail the integration of two or more infrastructure systems, concluding with a written paper and class presentation.At the end of this course students will have a framework for understanding integrated infrastructure design from multiple engineering and civic perspectives. Specific topics will be: - Boundaries and boundary conditions between Built Urban Infrastructure Systems and Natural Urban infrastructure Systems - Materials and Energy Flows between Built and Natural Urban Systems- Quantifying and Normalizing Urban Materials and Energy Flows- Basis of physical control of Infrastructure Systems- Basis of legal and economic control of Infrastructure systems- Metrics to evaluate single system and integrated system performanceStudents must submit an application for admission to this course: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxTP9MWxbOMJOYXOA3kK1ZWAPJHCkptxaXfGQ80o0Nz7d6cA/viewform?usp=sf_link