Title: CMS 97-28805 P.I.: Rae Zimmerman and Roy Sparrow, New York University "Institute for Civil Infrastructure Systems" The current state of infrastructure services and facilities relative to public expectations underscores the need for an institutional mechanism to bring together diverse groups to provide an integrative framework for infrastructure. New York University, with three collaborators - Cornell University, the University of Southern California, and the Polytechnic University of New York - will establish an Institute for Civil Infrastructure Systems (ICIS) within NYU's Wagner School of Public Service. This Institute builds on partnering institution expertise in infrastructure engineering, management, and social science, and incorporates a diverse set of participating organizations and individuals. The Institute's vision is to facilitate, build partnerships and networks, supported by a strong educational initiative and information technology to organize and transfer information to the CIS community. The ICIS will be an incubator for ideas and a marketplace for information to promote connectivity. It is a new approach, combining technical and social science expertise critical to the future direction of American's infrastructure. The ICIS strategic plan is organized around sustainability and coordinated renewal, education and learning, community awareness and participation, performance measurement assessments, and research needs assessment programs. Sustainability is central to other program operations. ICIS outputs include white papers, and electronic information system to support connectivity; conferences/forums to set ICIS agendas; and demonstration/pilot projects for education and community outreach. Self-evaluation and development functions are included. The organization includes a director, and executive committee coordinating program work and technical advisory, management oversight, and development boards. The ICIS is chartered by NSF to function for up to five years with NSF support. ***
