Pictures Matter: How Images of Projected Sea-Level Rise Shape Long-Term Sustainable Design Decisions for Infrastructure Systems

Julie Milovanovic, Tripp Shealy, Leidy Klotz, Eric J. Johnson and Elke U. Weber
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Julie Milovanovic: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Tripp Shealy: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Leidy Klotz: Department of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
Eric J. Johnson: Columbia Business School, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
Elke U. Weber: Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Community input matters in long-term decisions related to climate change, including the development of public infrastructure. In order to assess the effect of different ways of informing the public about infrastructure projects, a sample of people in the United States ( n = 630) was provided with a case study concerning the redevelopment of the San Diego Airport. Participants received the same written information about the projected future condition of the airport. In addition, participants received images either portraying current conditions or portraying conditions in 2100 based on NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) sea-level rise data. Participants were asked to choose 7 out of 21 design options to implement in the redevelopment project. The framework used for the design options stemmed from the Envision rating system. We analyzed the participants’ selection of the credits using generalized linear mixed models. Those that received the images portraying the future were significantly more likely to select design options that would reduce the risk of climate change and flooding. Images portraying sea-level rise had different effects depending on participant demographics. Such images increased the selection of design elements related to the climate and risk for participants identifying as female or as Democrat. For participants identifying as male or as Republican, the same images increased their selection of design elements to enhance community public space. The results demonstrate the positive effects of portraying the future in terms of encouraging focus on long-term sustainable design decisions for infrastructure systems.

Keywords: sustainable infrastructure; climate and risk; vivid imagery; behavioral decision-making; logistic modeling; envision rating system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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