BC 5144: Sustainable

Infrastructure Systems

Fall 2023
Fridays 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Dr. Annie Pearce
 Agenda for Today
• Part 1: Overview of the course
• Part 2: Scavenger Hunt
• Part 3: Report Back & Discussion of
Term Logistics
 Part 1: Course Overview
• Scope: What is infrastructure?
• Learning objectives
• Introductions to one another
• Structure of the course
What is Infrastructure?
By the time you’re done with this
course, you should be able to…
• See what’s around you:
 Is this
infrastructure?

Challenge – find at least

one food source between
your home and here before
next class.
Is this infrastructure?
How about
this?
 This course takes a very broad
perspective on infrastructure systems.
Supported, regulated, and/or
taxed by government to pay for
common infrastructure

Citizens
Developed, operated, and used
by citizens; Supported, regulated,
and/or taxed by government to Business Cultural
pay for common infrastructure Enterprises Enterprises

Comprised of citizens
to represent common interests Government
and undertake necessary actions
for the common good
Social Physical
Infrastructure Infrastructure
Developed and maintained
by government to serve all
citizens equitably Ecological Infrastructure

Protected and maintained

by government as the
foundation of all
other activities
By the time you’re done with this
course, you should be able to…
• Characterize
infrastructure from
an integrated
systems standpoint
• Identify key
vulnerabilities and
sustainability
improvement
opportunities
By the time you’re done with this
course, you should be able to…
• Convey information to maximize impact and
improve decision making:
 By the time you’re done with this
course, you should be able to…

• Articulate and
critique cultural
assumptions
behind
traditional
infrastructure
systems
By the time you’re done with this
course, you should be able to…
• Envision alternatives to traditional
infrastructure systems:

Vs.
 Who are you, and
why are you here?

Where you’re from

What you’re studying
One thing you’d like to learn or
experience in the course
Structure of the Course
 Administrivia
• Attendance
• Honor code
• Classroom conduct
• Other ground rules
• Safety, health, and wellness
• Respect for others

• Best way to reach me: email/text/appointment

 Your Grade

Element Basis Weight

1) Personal Sustainability Plan Individual 20%
2) Community Outreach Collective 20%
3) Term Project Individual 40%
4) Professional Engagement Individual 20%
 1) Personal Sustainability
Plan
• 20% of total course grade
• Guided exercise starting next week:
– On what infrastructure do you depend?
– What are its vulnerabilities?
– How can you improve sustainability and
resilience?
• Learn one/teach one skill
• Final reflection at the end of the term
 • This part of your grade will get you involved with
2) Community local infrastructure systems in new ways…
• Participation hours + social media post + reflection
Outreach • 20% of total course grade
• Discussion in Part 3, later
 3) Term Project
• A key part of sustainable
infrastructure is the HUMAN
systems that tie things together!
• You’ll choose one such system
in the NRV to investigate
thoroughly
• You’ll investigate one or more
key trends that this organization
should consider in its mid- to
long-range planning
 3) Term Project
• You MUST narrow your scope to the
local/regional affiliate scale
• Periodic deliverables to ensure
progress
• Final presentation/poster/report to
actual clients with recommendations on
how to prepare for trend
• More in Part 3…
American Planning Association 2023 Trend Report for Planners:
https://www.planning.org/publications/document/9263250/
 4) Professional Engagement
• Worth 20% of your course grade
• Be engaged:
– Prepare
– Show up for class
– Respond to questions/contribute to
discussions
– Complete periodic short assignments on
time
Course Text

I will supply
Chapter 2
Other Useful References
 Part 2: Scavenger Hunt
• OK, now that we’ve talked a bit about
what counts as infrastructure, the next
step is to talk about sustainability.
• For the next 30 minutes or so, take a
walk with a partner and build a slide
show of the items on the next slide.
Submit via Canvas no later than 10:30
pm and be ready to continue class.

NO WORDS ON SLIDES – ONLY IMAGES!!!!

 Part 2: Scavenger Hunt
• At least three slides showing examples of
UNSUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE
• At least three slides showing examples of
SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

• Include PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND ECOLOGICAL

• Try to find unique, specific examples you think
your classmates won’t include.
• You may include pointers to indicate specific
attributes of your images
 Part 3: Practical Stuff
• Logistics
– We have some great opportunities this
semester to get out of the classroom and
see things!
– Three hours might seem like a lot, but…
 Tentative Schedule
Week Date Topic
1 Aug 25 Welcome/Overview
2 Sep 1 Sustainability Theory
3 Sep 8 Ethics of Stakeholder Engagement
4 Sep 15 Sustainability Assessment
5 Sep 22 Infrastructure Vulnerability
6 Sep 29 System Leverage Points
7 Oct 6 No class - Fall Break
8 Oct 13 Stormwater/Green Infrastructure Tour
9 Oct 20 Sustainable Transportation Tour
10 Oct 27 Topics Tour
11 Nov 3 Logistics - Outreach Day
12 Nov 10 Topics Tour
13 Nov 17 Convincing the Public Tour
14 Nov 24 No class - Thanksgiving
15 Dec 1 Final Client Presentations
16 Dec 8 No class - Finals
Possible Additional
Tours

• Water/Wastewater
Treatment Plant
• Substation/Steam Plant
• Hydroelectric Power
Plant
• Transit/Public Works
• Others…
 Community Outreach Project
(20% of course grade)
• Learning Objectives for this project:
– To gain experience and feedback working
with real stakeholders
– To learn by doing in an authentic
environment
– To explore a different skill set than usual
 Requirements
• Eight hours of
engagement
• Social media post
• Personal reflection
including photos

• Instructor-supplied
opportunities and/or any
you may find on your
own…
 Term Project
(40% of course grade)
• Learning Objectives for this project:
– To gain experience and feedback working
with real stakeholders
– To learn by doing in an authentic
environment
– To explore a different skill set than usual
What’s
next?
 For next week

1 2 3
Start thinking Read through Complete the
about a social the posted posted
organization readings activities and
to investigate bring to class
 Wrap-up
• Any questions before you go?

• Upcoming classes:
– Week 2: What is sustainability?
– Week 3: Social systems and sustainability