Resiliency Center at Marshall University – Applied research and planning to promote resiliency throughout Appalachia

Applied research and planning to promote resiliency throughout Appalachia

About the Resiliency Center

The Resiliency Center represents a partnership between multiple academic, service and research entities at Marshall University. Successful regional integration of rural areas requires effective networks that the ensure safe and secure operation of systems to achieve sustainable economic growth and to build strong and resilient communities. Leveraging existing expertise, research activities, relationships, and advances in technology – the component parts of the Resiliency Center come together to comprehensively approach a wide variety of resource-related challenges and address those needs.

To specifically address the intersection of critical civil infrastructure and economic development, the Resiliency Center at Marshall University will focus upon:

Transportation and Infrastructure Enhancement through asset and performance management, non-destructive evaluation of condition, and traffic analysis and safety assessment.

Disaster Mitigation and Pre and Post Recovery Planning by improving state and local planning and policies to reduce risks from disasters, with a particular focus upon critical infrastructure and pre-disaster planning and building community planning tools and decision guides for developing and investing in resilient solutions for both new and aging infrastructure.

Partner and Support

ATI

Creating sustainable solutions to transportation-related challenges in rural areas to promote economic vitality.

CBER

Providing independent analysis and quality research to aid clients with economic and policy choices. promote economic vitality.

CECS

Providing education and research incorporating technology-enhanced methods by full-time, dedicated faculty complemented by expert adjuncts.

CEGAS

Forging technology-based relationships in the business community, higher education, and government agencies.

Active Research and Technical Support Initiatives

Brownfields Redevelopment

A Statewide program designed to return brownfield properties to productive use.

Outreach and education to local, county, regional and State governing agencies, the private sector, and non-profit organizations on brownfields redevelopment

Identify brownfield properties with highest redevelopment potential and conduct site research and related assistance toward site redevelopment

Assist in identifying and applying for funding to assess, remediate, and redevelop brownfield properties

Flood Mitigation Research

A suite of interrelated research projects designed to improve local community and regional resiliency.

Evaluating temporary flood barrier systems for critical infrastructure protection

Identification and inventory of flood-prone culverts and low water bridges

Identifying strategic locations for future Economic Development outside flood-prone areas

Improving floodplain prediction and impacts

Establishing relationships with State and Federal stakeholders to increase flood preparedness, resiliency, and recovery

Mapping to Support the Evaluation of the Geothermal, Carbon Capture and the Central Appalachian Energy Industry

A mapping and evaluation project to gauge geothermal energy production and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) potential in Central Appalachia.

Identify and map potential sites within the region for subsurface geothermal exploitation through CO2 storage and energy extraction

Evaluating existing technologies and economic impacts associated with implementation

Proposed Research and Technical Support Initiatives

Hazardous Structure Removal Initiative (HAZSRI)

A pilot program that works directly with local communities most heavily impacted from abandoned and dilapidated structures. HAZSRI will strategically identify structures with significant negative impact to the local community on properties with reuse potential for removal.

Compile community-based dilapidated and abandoned structure databases

Identify unsafe structure locations offering the most realistic and likely redevelopment potential

Identify property owners willing to partner on demolition and site redevelopment

Identify materials to be removed prior to demolition and estimate demolition costs

Statewide Resiliency Roadmap

A five-year strategic and implementation plan to support West Virginia in strengthening sustainable communities, civil infrastructure, and economic development.

Deliver a tangible inventory and assessment of vulnerable communities, infrastructure, and systems

Identifying the potential impacts from both climate and manmade events upon the statewide inventory

Develop a vertically integrated approach (including coordination of programs, information, and funding) among federal government entities, state agencies, local communities, and the private sector to address emergent issues

Short-Run Supply Chain Resilience

An evaluation of short-run resilience strategies to help foster the region’s ability to quickly address supply chain challenges and build resilience against future shocks.

Create transparency on multitier supply chains, establishing a list of critical assets, inputs, and transport modes as well as origin and destination pairings

Gather and summarize input from key transportation and supply chain stakeholders, agencies, industry, and community organizations essential to sustaining the regional economy