Overview and Mission

Overview - A Multidisciplinary Initiative

The focus of USIEP is on engineering the development of sustainable infrastructure in cities in the US and worldwide through research and teaching initiatives originating in academia. Urban infrastructure refers to engineered structures that provide energy, water, sanitation, housing and transport (of materials, humans and information) within an urban area.

An integration of geographic information systems (GIS) and environmental engineering with traditional civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering disciplines addressing construction, transportation, water supply, sanitation engineering, energy, power generation and distribution, is needed to provide the technological framework for sustainable urban infrastructure development to bring sustainable technologies.

The primary goal of this project is to develop a novel, inter-disciplinary research and teaching specialization at the UCD-HSC, integrating technology, economics, and urban planning aspects of sustainable urban infrastructure. Click here for a list of faculty participants.

Our Mission

• Develop and apply a systems approach that addresses large, complex, and inter-connected urban problems, integrating engineering with economics, business, public health, and public policy, and
• Partner with industry and government in the design and implementation of urban infrastructure engineering projects that result in healthy, prosperous and sustainable cities.

Our Program

• Integrates urban subsystems
• Using a holistic, multidisciplinary approach
• Uses Life Cycle Concepts
• Combines technical, economic and environmental analysis
• National and international focus on cities - big and small
• Implementation of projects with people and communities

A Sustainable Outcome

• Prosperous cities and urban renewal - economic sustainability
• Healthy cities that protect human health and the environment - environmental sustainability
• Cities that preserve earth’s resources - ecosystem sustainability
• Cities of well-being and equity - social sustainability

Benefits to Partners  

• Synergy between academia, industry and government
• Cutting edge of innovation in infrastructure design - combining research with application
• Building expertise through experience on innovative projects
• National and international showcase of infrastructure design projects

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