Approved by the Infrastructure and Research Policy Committee on March 13, 2020
Approved by the Public Policy Committee on May 4, 2020
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 11, 2020
Policy
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports funding for additional basic and applied research efforts and the development of national standards in support of design, construction, operations, and management initiatives that increase the reliability, safety, security, resilience, and survivability of the nation's vast infrastructure (e.g., water, energy, utilities, buildings and transportation) against natural and man-made disasters.
Issue
Natural and man-made disasters have repeatedly demonstrated the vulnerability of infrastructure. The United States government needs to address infrastructure vulnerability in order to make infrastructure critical to the U.S. economy safer, secure, and more resilient. The federal funding of research and standards is insufficient to provide the resources necessary to identify the most effective ways to mitigate natural and man-made hazards. Such funding is critical to the nation's critical infrastructure and to the health and safety of the nation and its citizens.
Rationale
The civil engineering profession is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the nation's infrastructure. Thus, ASCE is obligated to assist with the development and implementation of new strategies and technologies for mitigating the impact of future disasters on the nation's infrastructure.
ASCE Policy Statement 493
First Approved in 2002