The Importance of Infrastructure

Infrastructure is a term architects, engineers, and urban planners use to describe essential facilities, services, and organizational structures for communal use, most commonly by residents of cities and towns. Politicians often think of infrastructure in terms of how a nation can help corporations move and deliver their goods—water, electricity, sewage, and merchandise are all about movement and delivery via infrastructure. Infra- means below, and sometimes these elements are literally below the ground, like water and natural gas supply systems. In modern environments, infrastructure is thought to be any facility we expect but dont think about because it works for us in the  background, unnoticed—below our radar. The global information infrastructure for communications and internet involves satellites in space—not underground at all, but we rarely think about how that last Tweet got to us so quickly. Infrastructure is not American or exclusive to the United States. For example, engineers in nations across the globe have developed high-tech solutions for flood control—one system that protects an entire community. All countries have infrastructure in some form, which can include these systems: Roads, tunnels, and bridges, including the Interstate Highway SystemMass-transit systems (e.g., trains and rails)Airport runways and control towersTelephone lines and cellphone towersDams and reservoirsHurricane barriersLevees and pumping stationsWaterways, canals, and portsElectrical power lines and connections (i.e., the national power grid)Fire stations and equipmentHospitals, clinics, and emergency response systemsSchoolsLaw enforcement and prisonsSanitation and waste removal facilities for solid waste, wastewater, and hazardous wastePost offices and mail deliveryPublic parks and other types of green infrastructure Infrastructure Definition infrastructure:  The framework of interdependent networks and systems comprising identifiable industries, institutions (including people and procedures), and distribution capabilities that provide a reliable flow of products and services essential to the defense and economic security of the United States, the smooth functioning of governments at all levels, and society as a whole. — Report of the President’s Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection, 1997 Why Infrastructure Is Important We all use these systems, which are often called public works, and we expect them to function for us, but we dont like to pay for them. Many times the cost is hidden in plain view—added taxes to your utility and telephone bill, for example, may help pay for infrastructure. Even teenagers with motorbikes help pay for infrastructure with every gallon of gasoline used. A highway-user tax is added to each gallon of motor fuel (e.g., gasoline, diesel, gasohol) sold. This money goes into what is called the Highway Trust Fund in order to pay for repairs and replacement of roads, bridges, and tunnels. Likewise, each airline ticket you buy has a federal excise tax that should be used to maintain the infrastructure needed to support air travel.  Both state and federal governments are allowed to add taxes to certain products and services in order to help pay for the infrastructure that supports them. The infrastructure may begin to crumble if the tax doesnt keep increasing enough. Thes e excise taxes are consumption taxes that are in addition to your income taxes, which also can be used to pay for infrastructure. Infrastructure is important because we all pay for it and we all use it. Paying for infrastructure can be as complicated as the infrastructure itself. Nevertheless, most people depend on transportation systems and public utilities, which also are essential for the economic vitality of our businesses. As Senator Elizabeth Warren (Dem, MA) famously stated, You built a factory out there? Good for you. But I want to be clear: you moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for; you hired workers the rest of us paid to educate; you were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid for. You didnt have to worry that marauding bands would come and seize everything at your factory, and hire someone to protect against this, because of the work the rest of us did. — Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 2011 When Infrastructure Fails When natural disasters strike, stable infrastructure is necessary for swift delivery of emergency supplies and medical care. When fires rage in drought-ravaged areas of the U.S. we expect firefighters to be on the scene until the neighborhoods are safe. All countries are not so fortunate. In Haiti, for example, the lack of well-developed infrastructure contributed to the deaths and injuries suffered during and after the earthquake of January 2010. Every citizen should expect to live in comfort and safety. On the most basic level, every community requires access to clean water and sanitary waste disposal. Poorly maintained infrastructure can lead to a devastating loss of life and property. Examples of failed infrastructure in the U.S. include: When the Oroville Dams spillway eroded, thousands of Californians evacuated, 2017Unsafe drinking water from lead supply pipes affected the health of children in Flint, Michigan, 2014Sewer spills during hard rains in Houston, Texas created a public health hazard, 2009The collapse of Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota killed motorists, 2007Failure of the levees and pump stations after Hurricane Katrina flooded communities in New Orleans, Louisiana, 2005 Governments Role in Infrastructure Investing in infrastructure is nothing new for governments. Thousands of years ago, Egyptians built irrigation and transportation systems with dams and canals. Ancient Greeks and Romans built roads and aqueducts that still stand today. The 14th-century Parisian sewers have become tourist destinations. Governments around the world have realized that investing in and maintaining a healthy infrastructure is an important government function. Australias Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development claims that It is an investment that has a multiplier effect throughout the economy, generating lasting economic, social and environmental benefits. In an age of terrorist threats and attacks, the U.S. has stepped up efforts to secure critical infrastructure, extending the list of examples to  systems related to Information and communications, gas and oil production/storage/transportation, and even banking and finance. The list is the subject of an ongoing debate. Critical infrastructures now include national monuments (e.g. Washington Monument), where an attack might cause a large loss of life or adversely affect the nation’s morale. They also include the chemical industry....A fluid definition of what constitutes a critical infrastructure could complicate policymaking and actions. — Congressional Research Service, 2003 In the U.S. the Infrastructure Security Division and the  National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center are part of the Department of Homeland Security. Watchdog groups like the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) keep track of progress and needs by issuing an infrastructure report card every year. Books About Infrastructure Infrastructure: The Book of Everything for the Industrial Landscape by Brian HayesThe Works: Anatomy of a City by Kate AscherMove: How to Rebuild and Reinvent Americas Infrastructure by Rosabeth Moss KanterThe Road Taken: The History and Future of Americas Infrastructure by Henry Petroski Sources President’s Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection, October 1997, pp. B-1 to B-2, PDF at https://fas.org/irp/crs/RL31556.pdf Summary, Critical Infrastructures: What Makes an Infrastructure Critical? Report for Congress, Order Code RL31556, Congressional Research Service (CRS), Updated January 29, 2003, PDF at https://fas.org/irp/crs/RL31556.pdf Infrastructure, Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Australian Government, https://infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure/ [accessed August 23, 2015] Elizabeth Warren: There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own by Lucy Madison, CBS News, September 22, 2011, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/elizabeth-warren-there-is-nobody-in-this-country-who-got-rich-on-his-own/ [accessed March 15, 2017] Highway Trust Fund and Taxes, U.S.Department of Transportation, https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact/factsheets/htffs.cfm [accessed December 25, 2017]   Ascher, Kate. The Works: Anatomy of a City. Paperback, Reprint edition, Penguin Books, November 27, 2007. Hayes, Brian. Infrastructure: The Book of Everything for the Industrial Landscape. Paperback, Reprint edition, W. W. Norton Company, September 17, 2006. Kanter, Rosabeth Moss. Move: How to Rebuild and Reinvent Americas Infrastructure. 1 edition, W. W. Norton Company, May 10, 2016. Petroski, Henry. The Road Taken: The History and Future of Americas Infrastructure. Hardcover, Bloomsbury USA, February 16, 2016.

Elements of Good Feasibility - 998 Words

The Elements of a Good Feasibility Study Tim Bryce | Mar 20, 2008 | Comments (5) Those who do not do their homework do not graduate. - Bryce s Law In its simplest form, a Feasibility Study represents a definition of a problem or opportunity to be studied, an analysis of the current mode of operation, a definition of requirements, an evaluation of alternatives, and an agreed upon course of action. As such, the activities for preparing a Feasibility Study are generic in nature and can be applied to any type of project, be it for systems and software development, making an acquisition, or any other project. There are basically six parts to any effective Feasibility Study: 1. The PROJECT SCOPE which is used to define the†¦show more content†¦After the total cost of the project has been calculated, a cost and evaluation summary is prepared which includes such things as a cost/benefit analysis, return on investment, etc. 6. REVIEW - all of the preceding elements are then assembled into a Feasibility Study and a formal review is conducted with all parties involved. The review serves two purposes: to substantiate the thoroughness and accuracy of the Feasibility Study, and to make a project decision; either approve it, reject it, or ask that it be revised before making a final decision. If approved, it is very important that all parties sign the document which expresses their acceptance and commitment to it; it may be a seemingly small gesture, but signatures carry a lot of weight later on as the project progresses. If the Feasibility Study is rejected, the reasons for its rejection should be explained and attached to the document. CONCLUSION It should be remembered that a Feasibility Study is more of a way of thinking as opposed to a bureaucratic process. For example, what I have just described is essentially the same process we all follow when purchasing an automobile or a home. As the scope of the project grows, it becomes more important to document the Feasibility Study particularly if large amounts of money are involved and/or the criticality of delivery. Not only should the Feasibility Study contain sufficient detail to carry on to the next succeeding phase in theShow MoreRelatedWhat Are Construction Projects?1476 Words   |  6 Pagestechnology of modern buildings construction, uncertainty created by the inevitable time for a construction project life cycle and uniqueness of each project. The development process of a project mainly includes eight stages which are ‘inception’, ‘feasibility’, ‘strategy’, ‘pre-construction’, ‘construction’, ‘testing and commissioning’, ‘completion, handover and operation’ as well as ‘post-completion review and in use’. The very first stage of all is ‘inception’ which may take up to 4 months (NationalRead MoreSap Atlam674 Words   |  3 PagesCompanies. 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ElectricalRead MoreCritical Thinking : Scrutinizing Your Initial Draft Essay1494 Words   |  6 PagesCritical Thinking: Scrutinizing Your Initial Draft With the knowledge of what is expected, and many of the big questions already answered, your summary business plan is probably well organized. The purpose of a feasibility study is to add more detail to your plan by doing targeted research to think strategically about the estimates, and discoveries you made in your summary business plan. Once you go through the basic method I present here, you can modify it to fit your methodology accordinglyRead MoreIndividual: Service Request Sr-Rm-022, Part 11192 Words   |  5 Pageseven the top investors of the company its self. Anyone interested in the production and the improvement of the new integrated application system. The Project Scope The Project definition is identifying the problem. 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Causal Argument free essay sample

How Social Media Impacts Social Interaction Each day millions of people log on to their phones or computers and communicate with each other through chat rooms and text messages. Social media has gotten rid of the need to communicate by mail, enabling us to interact 24/7 with more people than ever before. This interaction results in more people being involved in an abundant number of relationships through technology. These social networking sites open up numerous connections with other people and information. Unfortunately, social media has negatively affected these interactions, leading to a loss of authentic dialogue, a change in the way people perceive each other, and an increase in cyber bullying. To begin, social media has caused people to engage in face-to-face contact less often and hide their emotions behind their text messages. In the workplace, the use of electronic communication has overtaken face-to-face and voice-to-voice communication by a wide margin. This major shift has been driven by two major forces: the geographic dispersion of business, and the lack of comfort with traditional interpersonal communication among a growing segment of our employee population: Gen Y and Millennials. Studies show that these generations – which will comprise more than 50% of the workforce by 2020 – would prefer to use instant messaging or other social media rather than stop by an office and talk with someone. This new communication preference is one of the â€Å"generational gaps† plaguing organizations as Boomers try to manage to a new set of expectations and norms in their younger employees, and vice versa. With these trends, business managers must consider the impact on business relationships and the ability to collaborate effectively, build trust, and create employee engagement (Tardanico 3). According to Paul Booth, PhD, an assistant professor of media and cinema studies in the College of Communication at DePaul University in Chicago, social media certainly affects how we engage with one another across all venues and ages. He says, â€Å"There has been a shift in the way we communicate; rather than face-to-face interaction, we’re tending to prefer mediated communication.† Paul Booth states that, â€Å"We’d  rather e-mail than meet; we’d rather text than talk on the phone† (Tardanico 3). According to Booth, studies have shown that people actually are becoming more social and more interactive with others, but the style of that communication has changed so that we’re not meeting face-to-face as often as we used to. That said, our interactions on social media tend to be weak ties—that is, we don’t feel as personally connected to the people at the other end of our communication as we do when we’re face-to-face. Booth says, â€Å"So while we’re communicating more, we may not necessarily be building relationships as strongly.† All of this information shows that people do not build very deep relationships with others and interact on a more shallow level. Another concern is that social media has caused technology addiction, when individuals spend more time with their smartphone than interacting with the people around them. Bowman says, â€Å"It may be the parent checking his or her e-mail during a family dinner or the young college student updating Twitter while on a first date.† â€Å"For these people, they likely feel such a strong sense of identity online that they have some difficulty separating their virtual actions from their actual ones.† (Keller 2). These quotes state that people have become so connected with their phones that they lose their own sense of self. These examples show how a part of ourselves lie in our cellphones and social media in defining who we are. We are not only defined by our actions but also what we write and share on social media websites. In addition, social media has changed the way we perceive each other physically and emotionally, whether it be through a profile picture or how we word our messages. Forbes.com gives an accurate description of a simple conversation through text messages and how the conversation was perceived incorrectly. According to Forbes, Sharon Seline exchanged text messages with her daughter who was in college. They ‘chatted’ back and forth, mom asking how things were going and daughter answering with positive statements followed by emoticons showing smiles, b-i-g smiles and hearts. Later that night, her daughter attempted suicide. Afterward, it came to light that she’d been holed up in her dorm room, crying and showing signs of depression — a completely different reality from the one that she conveyed in texts, Facebook posts and tweets. Anyone can hide behind the text, the e-mail, the Facebook post or the tweet, projecting any image they want and creating an illusion of their choosing. Without the ability to  receive nonverbal cues, their audiences are none the wiser. In addition, studies show that only 7% of communication is based on the written word and 93% is based on nonverbal body language (Tardanico 3). With most of our visible communication skills stripped away we are unable to express our selves effectively and cannot perceive emotions of others. In another online article from NPR a Facebook user named Walter Woodman used to pick through his pictures and only showed the ones that made him look good. Woodman also did the same with his interest and personality traits (Yu 1). Social media has caused us to hide behind a computer screen and not show others who we really are. Through texting and Facebook profiles we lose a sense of who we are and give others a false image of ourselves. By providing a wall that kids can hide behind, social media harbors the growth of cyber bullying in children and teens. According to osteopathic.org, in addition to the physical and verbal bullying that may take place at school, cyber-bullying in the form of harassing text messages and derogatory posts on children’s Facebook pages is now commonplace. Even though it may not take place in person, the emotional and psychological effects of cyber-bullying are just as destructive. Since new media and cell phones are harder to track and monitor, parents need to take preventive measures that can help minimize the effects of cyber-bullying on their children. Jennifer N. Caudle, an AOA board-certified family physician at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine explains, â€Å"Kids that are bullied are likely to experience anxiety, depression, loneliness, unhappiness, and poor sleep.† Making the issue worse is the fact that such negative effects of bullying often go unnoticed, as many victims feel the need to conceal the fact that they are being bullied because they are embarrassed or afraid of further bullying. Bowman says, â€Å"For example, cyberbullying has largely the same antecedents and behavioral, emotional, and affective consequences as does [noncyber] bullying.† â€Å"Yet the difference is the ‘more’—that is, social media allows for more contact, more communication, and in a more public manner† (Keller 2). In a bullying event, often the person being bullied can remove himself or herself from the environment, at least temporarily. â€Å"If we consider that bullying’s effects on an individual can build over time, then there is a real concern that increasing contact between bullies and their targets in persistent and digital interactions might exacerbate the problem.† (Keller 2). More often  than not victims respond passively to bullying and tend to act anxious and appear less confident. They may become quieter in class and, as a result, the bullying can become a hindrance on their academic success and personal well-being. However, social media sites improve socialization and communication between teens and adults in a variety of ways. Social media sites allow Social media sites allow teens to accomplish online many of the tasks that are important to them offline such as staying connected with friends and family, making new friends, sharing pictures, and exchanging ideas. Social media participation also can offer adolescents deeper benefits that extend into their view of self, community, and the world. This includes opportunities for community engagement through raising money for charity and volunteering for local events, including political and philanthropic events. Individual and collective creativity can be enhanced through development and sharing of artistic and musical endeavors. Teens’ ideas can grow from the creation of blogs, podcasts, videos, and gaming sites. Social media sites also allow for the expansion of ones online connections through shared interests to include others from more diverse backgrounds (such communication is an important step for all adolescents and affords the opportunity for respect, tolerance, and increased discourse about personal and global issues). Lastly social media sites foster the growth of ones individual identity and unique social skills by allowing them share what music and movies they enjoy (Clarke-Pearson 1). These facts show that social media creates a safe haven and important place for people to develop their own personalities and ideas. Even though these facts exist, my argument is still valid because of the fact that social media sites foster cyber bullying, loss of authentic dialogue, and alters the way people perceive each other. All of these factors cause social media to do more harm than good in that peoples self esteems can be lowered and that our basic communication skills are stripped away. Even the way people see each other through social media is misconstrued and gives others a false perception of ourselves. All forms of social media have been revolutionary creations and have given users access to a vast web of connections and new ways to stay in touch. These social media sites have a wide array of negative consequences as well as good ones including limiting our face-to-face contact. Without the widespread use of these chat rooms and instant messages we could gain  much mo re social interaction needed in today’s society.

Violence Does Not Solve Anything free essay sample

Argumentative Martin Luther King had a ginormous impact on a huge amount of people in the past, present and it is safe to say, the future. The way he spoke, grabbed the attention and addressed his audience was powerful in many different aspects. He earned the respect of many individuals who listened to him. In the document Non-Violence and Racial Justice, Martin Luther King addresses justice, oppression, respect and non-violence resistance. Martin Luther King was a peaceful man and never the less, tried to influence, impact and persuade others to be peaceful as well. Throughout his document, he utilized different techniques to grab the reader’s attention and hold onto to them until he had portrayed the information he had wanted. By the end of this document, the reader should have at least gained knowledge, understanding and insight about non-violence resistance. It is said†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Violence doesn’t solve anything. † Martin Luther King was illustrating that violence will not accomplish anything. We will write a custom essay sample on Violence Does Not Solve Anything or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In this document, Martin Luther King is unraveling slavery, oppression and justice. He uses a phenomenal metaphor by saying this about slaves, â€Å"He was considered a thing to be used, not a person to be respected. He was merely a depersonalized cog in a vast plantation machine. †(King 1) Martin Luther King clarifies that the Negros were brought to America by force to be slaves and were property just like anything else that is bought and sold. The Negros were not viewed as a human and was not given any rights until â€Å"1896 through the Plessey v. Ferguson decision, a new kind of slavery came into being. In this Decision the Supreme Court of the nation established to doctrine of â€Å"separate but equal. † (King 2) It was soon discovered that yes, they were separate, but they were not equal and injustice was still in place. Violence does not solve anything and Martin Luther King goes on to explain the benefits of non-violence resistance. Soon, the Negro Americans were required to travel and in doing so â€Å"his economic life began gradually to ri se, his crippling illiteracy gradually to decline. A myriad of factors came together to cause the Negro to take a new look at himself. †(King 3) They were now determined to fight back and break free from the grips of oppression and segregation once in for all. They would have justice, and no one was going to stand in their way. There were two ways to execute injustice, violently or the alternative to violence, non-violent resistance. Martin Luther King was a peaceful man. He promoted peace throughout everybody and he used choice of words, speeches and various documents to promote peace throughout this country. He said in this document, â€Å"Violence solves no social problem: it merely creates new and more complicated ones. †(King 4) Violence doesn’t solve anything. Non-violence resistance did, and the five reasons why it worked are explained. Non-violence resistance was passive aggressive or non-aggressive all together. Instead of being physically aggressive, non-violence resistance was physiological, all in the brain, eluding the other party to believe they were incorrect, wrong or misinformed. This approach also didn’t intend to knock the other individual down to their knees. It is about friendship, understanding and hopefully being able to shake hands in the end. â€Å"The aftermath of non-violence is the creation of the beloved community, while the aftermath of violence is tragic bitterness. (King 5) Another reason according to Martin Luther King was because this method attacks evil, instead of the human being that is being controlled by it. The last two reasons why this approach was successful were because of love and faith. King uses a metaphor which is as follows to explain hate and love, â€Å"Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chains of hate. †( King 7) Obviously, there is no such thing has a chain of hate, but a metaphor is two things that are compared to make a vivid picture in the readers imagination. Finally, the last method is faith. Faith is needed to believe that God is truthful and will ensure that justice is achieved. Violence doesn’t solve anything. In this document, Martin Luther King is trying to persuade others to be peaceful and take this document to heart and really let this information soak into their mind and memory. His objective was to make people think and imagine the lives of these people who were oppressed, ridiculed and treated with out justice. Non-violence resistance was a very passive aggressive or non-aggressive approach all around. Martin Luther King was an amazing speaker and writer. He persuaded people across the nation with his rhetorical techniques, which made his speeches and documents stronger and more creditable. Throughout this document, his choice of words was captivating and drew the reader into the text. He used every method he could to persuade his reader, support his reasoning and create thought. At the end of this text, the reader should have obtained a better understanding of violence and non violence. Remember†¦violence doesn’t solve anything.