Energy, Environment & Infrastructure Faculty

Featured Faculty Research

An aerial view of the San Francisco Bay delta, photo by Andrei / Adobe Stock

Decision Support Tool for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Levees Investment Strategy

Mar 7, 2019

The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta faces complex and varied flood risks. Possible investments to mitigate these risks are numerous, and they will affect Delta risks differently. A decision support tool developed by alum David Groves (cohort '01) and student James Syme ('18) aided the Delta Stewardship Council in developing a Delta Levees Investment Strategy.

A Palestinian woman drags a cart loaded with water containers after filling them from a public tap in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, February 28, 2017

How to Solve the Water Crisis in Gaza

Sep 26, 2018

Gaza has long had water and sanitation challenges, but today it's in a state of emergency. Research by alumni Shira Efron (cohort '11) and Jordan Fischbach ('04), student Rouslan Karimov ('15), and Prof. Melinda Moore finds that the crisis could be resolved through infrastructure investment, but political complications and other barriers remain.

Is Climate Restoration an Appropriate Policy Goal?

Apr 6, 2018

Climate restoration seeks to return atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases to preindustrial levels within one to two generations. Prof. Robert Lempert explores whether this is a suitable goal for humanity's response to climate change.

Pittsburgh's Options to Address Lead in Its Water

Jul 18, 2017

Pittsburgh is struggling to improve its aging water system. Student Michele Abbott (cohort '14) and alum/professor Jordan Fischbach (cohort '04) review the history and recent developments related to the use of lead pipes and the policy options for lead remediation currently being weighed by local decisionmakers.

Baotu Spring in Jinan City, Shandong, China

Alumni Evaluate the Jinan City Water Ecological Development Implementation Plan

Mar 9, 2017

Alumni David Groves (cohort '01) and Zhimin Mao (cohort '11) as well as professors Debra Knopman and Nidhi Kalra, evaluated potential effects of demand and climate uncertainties on investments recently undertaken by the Jinan Municipal Water Resources Bureau according to the Jinan City Water Ecological Development Implementation Plan, and assessed the potential of new investments and management strategies to help Jinan meet its long-term water resources goals.

Damage of a devastating tornado in Tuscaloosa, AL

Current and Future Exposure of Infrastructure in the United States to Natural Hazards

Jul 12, 2016

Infrastructure in some areas of the country currently faces disproportionate exposure to natural hazards, and this exposure is likely to increase in the future as a result of climate change, according to research by professor Henry Willis, alumni Jordan Fischbach (cohort '04) and Edmundo Molina-Perez (cohort '11), and students Lauren Kendrick and Katie Loa (both cohort '12).

Technological Lessons from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Accident

Jun 1, 2016

To improve responses to future radiological or nuclear contingencies, alum Sarah Evans (cohort '12) and professors Cynthia Dion-Schwartz, Scott Harold, and Lloyd Thrall draw lessons from the accident at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant. They analyze how technologies were used successfully to counter radioactive contamination and identify capability gaps that could be redressed through novel technologies or improved use of existing technologies.

nature, water, agriculture, green, garden, sprinkler, land, irrigation, irrigate, organic, system, plant, farm, field, vegetable, growth, crop, farming, gardening, fresh, food, sprinkling, mist, produce, spray, industry, industrial, wet, landscape, moisture, farmer, natural, health, summer, healthy, drop, grass, grow, outdoors, leaf, starch, biology, supply, irrigating, spring, agricultural, outdoor, vegetables, refreshing

Developing Robust Strategies for Climate Change and Other Risks: A Water Utility Framework

Jan 26, 2015

Pardee RAND alumni, faculty, and students present a comprehensive approach for water utilities to assess climate risks to their systems and evaluate adaptation strategies. The approach, based on Robust Decision Making (RDM) is demonstrated through pilot studies with two water utilities: Colorado Springs Utilities and New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

Holding a tablet computer with a weather icon

The Adoption of New Smart-Grid Technologies

Jan 15, 2015

A smart grid for the United States could have large-scale benefits. Professors Christopher Guo and Craig Bond note that there are technological, economic, and regulatory barriers, but new policies or changes to policy could help overcome them.