Rural RISE: Rural Resilient InfraStructurE

RURAL RISE: RURAL RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE

There is an urgent need to secure infrastructure systems for rural communities. This will be the goal of Rural Resilient Infrastructure (Rural RISE), focused on establishing SDSU as a leading resource in the Imperial Valley cities of Brawley and Calexico, and eventually, nationally.

A team of engineers, historians and geographers will focus on developing effective methods to strengthen the resilience of rural America. Initial research will focus on understanding and quantifying the relationships between essentials such as food/agriculture, energy, transportation, water/wastewater systems, and rural community well-being. 

Community meetings and forums will be critical to procuring feedback on local needs and the developed models and procedures.

The team will also introduce interdisciplinary courses to provide a background for college students as well as for working professionals interested in this major 21st-century challenge. They will also develop video training for high school students to promote the next generation of engineers.