Authors: Hansman, R. John¹; Magee, Christopher¹; Neufville, Richard De¹; Robins, Renee¹; Roos, Daniel²

Source: International Journal of Critical Infrastructures, Volume 2, Numbers 2-3, 31 March 2006 , pp. 146-159(14)

Publisher: Inderscience Publishers

Abstract:

Building on broad discussions between many universities, this paper presents a research agenda based on a holistic, comprehensive view of the issues. It proposes that our infrastructure is a system of systems involving different technical manifestations and social organisations. The implication is that we need a fundamental reconsideration of how we look at system design, away from traditional disciplinary considerations and toward a multi-domain, multi-disciplinary effort. To this end, it proposes an agenda of: comparative analyses across infrastructures and political structures, that would identify commonalities and larger lessons; creation of integrated socio-technical models that usefully describe the interactions between the technical infrastructure and its social context; methodological efforts, aimed largely at capturing the network characteristics, both technical and social, of the infrastructure system of systems; explicit testing and evaluation of the research through programs of collaboration with practitioners and governmental organisations.

Keywords: ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALS; Infrastructures; RISK, SAFETY AND EMERGENCY JOURNALS; Risk and Emergency Management

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJCIS.2006.009434

Affiliations: 1: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA. 2: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA

Publication date: 2006-03-31

More about this publication?

• The International Journal of Critical Infrastructures aims to provide an authoritative source of information and an unique international forum in the field of Risk and Vulnerability Assessment and Management of Vital Societal Systems exposed to antropogenic and natural threats. It intends to establish channels of communication and to disseminate the best practice, knowledge and state of the art science, and stakeholders involvement between policy makers, practitioners, researchers and academia working in the field.
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