Infrastructure Management

Catalog description

All civilizations depend on infrastructure - the underlying, often hidden foundation of a society's wealth and quality of life. This course provides an introduction and overview of global infrastructure issues as framed against the essential role of infrastructure in supporting sustainable and equitable development. The course offers a wide perspective on infrastructure and infrastructure systems including transportation, energy, water, and communications, and places a heavy focus on interdependence, resiliency, and supply/demand management. Covered topics range from condition, needs, and performance assessment methods to discussions of the infrastructure life cycle—planning, construction, and operations. An independently developed student project provides an opportunity for students to explore areas of infrastructure management of personal interest. Our overarching purpose is for students to develop an understanding of the essential role of infrastructure systems in enabling human communities to thrive.