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5
Findings, Conclusions, and
Recommendations
Chapter 1. Besearth and ~nfrast;rllct~re Sensation-Oppa~tll
~uties and Challenges
Findings
.
.
The committee concurs with others that America's pup
kc works ~nfr~tructure ~ an essential component of our
quality of life, domestic productivity, and international
competitiveness; that the slow deterioration in many el-
ements of the infrastructure presents an escalating and
impending crmm, in some cases posing safety risks; and
that deterioration and obsolescence of our ~nhastructure
imposes costs on users aDd ultimately imposes constraints
on the economic development of communities, regions, and
the nation.
Researth and development can contribute In significant
ways to the unproved performance of infrastructure ser-
vices by providing managers and policymakers with a
broader range of options.
Current research and development on infrastructure is un-
even across the various modes of infrastructure, with come
commanding considerable financial resources while others
are underfunded and facing significant challenges.
51
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52
.
Conclusion
Reteach that amber problems common to several
modes ~d them interaction ~ not given sufficient atten-
tion. Such topics mclude systems consideration, men ages
ment practices, technological improvements, add strategies
to overcome the extensive balTiere to Adoration.
A ~oroa`'y defined program of infrastruct?urc research and tcchnol-
ogy transfer addrce~ng the gaps in research within and among
indiv'`ual modes and exploiting the opportunities for cross-cutting
research on common topics and interactions ~ credential to dewing
more creative solutions to our infrastructure problems.
C7napter 2. Identifying the Opportunities
Fm~ing8
A number of high visibility problems in infrastructure am
pear amenable to a range of reseal efforts. Illustrative
of such problems are solid-waste disposal, urban mobility,
and water-poDution control. Each of these problems offers
opportunities for research ~ several categories include
(1) maintenance of existing syste~ns, (2) enhancement of
existing systems, (3) development of alternative systems,
~d (4) policies arid management procedures.
There ~ much to be gamed fiom recogn~z~g common-
alities among the infrastructure elements and exploiting
them through generic research. ~ustrati~re areas for com-
mon research include materials science, information te~-
nology, nondestructive evaluation, and urban and regional
pla7,ning.
A demonstration project mvol~nng the application of non-
destructi~re evaluation to urban streets opera art immediate
opportunity to illustrate the broad applicabilibr of a par
ticular research approach. ~
.
.
Conclusion
The elective development and use of advances in science and tcch-
nology and improved. tools for management and policy malting to
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53
address infrastructure problems can have a major impact in improv-
ing and maintaining the public scr~necs delivered to the American
people.
Chapter 3. Barri=e to Renovation
Fakings
. Innovation in infrastructure occurs, but it faces special
barriers including fragmentation of the user community
and absence of a market mechanism.
Cultural patter=, such as the attachment of Americans
to their automobiles and reactance to separation of wastes
(thus making recycI=g lea attractive as an option for tech-
nological innovation), must be accommodated in seeking
technological alternatives.
. Other examples of barriers that need attention mclude
governmental and professional standards, organizational
inertia, and risk and liability problems.
Some of the barriers to innovation In infrastructure ~n-
clude the current structure of the education and research
. -
communities.
There are effective strategies any techniques for promoting
innovation that could be Copter to accelerate technolog~-
cad improvement of our infrastructure including peer diffu-
sion, support of innovation Champions, the use of demon-
strations aDd experiments, the development of mechanisms
for resolving public "d professional conflicts, and cooper-
ative research and development. Most of Al, a national
research and development strategy for infrastructure must
involve potential users early and strengthen the existing
in-house research and development capacity within the
modes.
Conclusion
The formidable array of boarders to innovation in infrastructure
calf for a major effort to identify, understand, and overcome such
barriers as part of a national research and `development agenda for
infrastructure systems.
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54
Chapter 4. ~plenentation Strategy for a National ~astruc-
t~re ResearEh Agenda
Findings
The magnitude and complexity of infrastructure problems
merit a national focus.
. To adequately addre" these problernR a new force ~d
direction for ~nfi~tructure research ~ required
The exiting institutions for managing reteach are likely
to continue to produce incremental improvements which
have very real Prague, but lack the potential to overcome
the barriers to innovation and find solutions that address
the issues common to several modes.
No single organization exists that is dedicated to focusing
attention on the problems to be solved ~ unprov~ng the
nation's ~nDastructure.
Conclusion
A continuing organization ~ needed to cnsurc that a national focus
~ given to rcecarch' development, and technology transfer need~for
infrastructure systems. This organization will serve as a catalyst to
assure that a national infrastructure research agenda ~ formulate
per~odicali, update' and carried out.
1~:COM~E:NDATIONS
A process to create a continuing organization to focus atten-
tion on and stimulate a national program of infrastructure research
and development should be initiated.
As a first step, the Congress should create and fund a two-
year implementation program to plan for and initiate the
continuing organization and its agenda.
The Implementation program should develop a nations
strategy for infrastructure research and development. This
would mclude gathering information, setting minimum
goals and criteria, drawing up a strategic plan for the con-
tinuing organization, and identifying immediate targets of
opportunity.
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55
.
The unplementation program should msue periodic progress
reports to the Congress.
An effort to encourage and strengthen exiting modal efforts
in research and development ~ an essential complement to the
creation of an organization for focusing on infrastructure research.
The committee encourages systematic efforts by organization cur-
rently supporting and conducting reteach In the various subsets
of infrastructure and suggests that the approach used to create a
research program for highways may be worth emulating, especially
in linking the research add user communities.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
continuing organization
