Safe, reliable, and adaptable infrastructure—housing, transportation, utilities, and communication—reduces vulnerability to disruptions and keeps daily life running smoothly. Thoughtful planning and investment ensure these systems meet today’s needs while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges.
The design and maintenance of infrastructure directly influence how well a community can respond to and recover from disruptions. For example, deciding whether to build housing in a flood-prone area or expand a public greenway can shape how that community weathers a future flood. Similarly, a new transportation route can connect rural residents to jobs, schools, and essential services, creating opportunities for economic and social vitality.
We work with communities to identify risks to their critical systems, explore options for strengthening them, and connect them with Boise State expertise to turn plans into action. By improving the safety, reliability, and adaptability of the built environment, we help communities reduce risk, enhance quality of life, and create a foundation for resilience that will serve future generations.
Example Projects
- Assessing Rural Resilience
- Idaho Landscape Scan
- Valley County Resilience Webtool
- Economic Valuation of the Greenbelt
- Flood Risk in Idaho
- The Idaho Resilience Tool
HRCI Pillars
Natural Environment Health & Well-being Economy & Society
The HCRI research pillars capture the interconnection between and amongst disciplines, highlighting the dynamic and multifaceted nature of community resilience. Our goal in promoting these pillars is the foster connections and collaborations between disciplines and across sectors.
Natural Environment
The health of our plance, natural resources natural hazards, risk, risk education, and climate change.
Economy and Society
Economic and social conditions that (1) allow communities to prepare for, respond to and recover form adverse natural events and economic shocks, and (2) foster thriving, healthy communities.
Built Environment
Reliability and strength of critical infrastructure (communications, power grid, buildings built to hazard code), and systems faciliators or inhibitors to improve or build stronger infrastructure (e.g., capital, policy).
Health and Well-being
Environmental and social conditions that foster healthy thriving communities.