Stakeholder engagement to strengthen underground infrastructure resilience

Carlos E. Restrepo, Rae Zimmerman (), Debra F. Laefer, Alan Leidner, Wendy Dorf, Peter Gmelch and Kim Hertz
Additional contact information
Carlos E. Restrepo: Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University
Rae Zimmerman: Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University
Debra F. Laefer: Tandon School of Engineering, New York University
Alan Leidner: NYC Geospatial Information Systems and Mapping Organization (GISMO)
Wendy Dorf: NYC Geospatial Information Systems and Mapping Organization (GISMO)
Peter Gmelch: Tandon School of Engineering, New York University
Kim Hertz: Tandon School of Engineering, New York University

Environment Systems and Decisions, 2025, vol. 45, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Unlike aboveground utility systems, for which very detailed and accurate information exists, there is generally a dearth of good-quality data about underground utility infrastructures that provide vital services. To identify key strategies to improve the resilience of these underground systems, this paper presents mechanisms for successful engagement and collaboration among stakeholders and shared cross-sector system vulnerability concerns (including data availability) based on the innovative use of focus groups. Outputs from two virtual focus groups were used to obtain information from New York City area utilities and other stakeholders affected by underground infrastructure. There was strong agreement among participants that (1) a trusted agency in New York City government should manage a detailed map of underground infrastructure that would allow stakeholders to securely access appropriate information about underground systems on a need-to-know basis; (2) environmental risk factors, such as infrastructure age and condition, as well as location should be included; and (3) improved mechanisms for collaboration and sharing information are needed, especially during non-emergency situations. Stakeholders also highlighted the need for a regularly updated central database of relevant contacts at key organizations, since institutions often have a high employee turnover rate, which creates knowledge loss. The focus group script developed as part of this research was designed to be transferable to other cities to assess data needs and potential obstacles to stakeholder collaboration in the areas of underground infrastructure mapping and modeling.

Keywords: Underground utility infrastructure; Stakeholder engagement; Resilience; Urban (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10669-025-10003-8 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:envsyd:v:45:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10669-025-10003-8

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.springer.com/journal/10669

DOI: 10.1007/s10669-025-10003-8

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Environment Systems and Decisions from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().