Registration Request Form: Registration will be prioritized for Columbia faculty and affiliated scholars. If you are a postdoctoral researcher, student, or external guest, you may be waitlisted to attend until closer to the event date. All who submit the form will receive a confirmation email and a calendar hold if your registration is approved. Thank you again for your interest in attending!
Speaker: Daan Liang, Professor, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Director of Center for Sustainable Infrastructure (CSI), University of Alabama
Narrowing the Gap or Leaping Forward: Reimagining U.S. Infrastructure for Resilience and Adaptability
Abstract: The infrastructures in the United States are at a critical juncture, under constant, compounded threats by escalating weather and climate disasters and deteriorating legacy systems. From the Maui wildfires that exposed systemic vulnerabilities to transit, aviation, and schools earning "at risk" D grades, even our lifeline systems struggles to respond to rising physical stressors and shifting user demands. In this talk, Dr. Daan Liang argues that overcoming these challenges requires a major departure from traditional designs based on "average person" and “design event”. Underpinning this departure are new knowledge and insights derived from deep integration of engineering, social science, information technology, art, and other disciplines. By understanding how human perception, behavior, and intent interact with physical spaces, for example, architects and engineers are able to create a new class of built environment that actively promotes wellness, creativity, and social engagement. Furthermore, he points to an ongoing transition from the "fail-safe" to "build-to-adapt" framework. The talk concludes by exploring and discussing nascent ideas such as "neuro-in-the-loop" engineered systems, community-based randomized controlled trials, and predictive maintenance powered by AI.