Solution

Resilient and environmentally friendly infrastructure

This solution addresses outdated infrastructure in Oakland, USA for local communities

Problem Description

Oakland’s transportation network, utilities, and housing stock have helped it achieve a diverse and booming economy. Yet infrastructure, such as the storm drainage system and streets, is under strain and not keeping pace with the changes and challenges of the 21st century. Oakland needs to rethink its traditional approach to infrastructure, especially given the City’s strong commitment to renewable energy and efficiency goals, as well as green infrastructure projects. Oakland needs to think about digital infrastructure and how that relates to smart cities, the “internet of things,” and greater data collection through sensors, which can also help prioritize limited capital improvement dollars. Oakland envisions a transformative approach to creating vibrant, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure.

Building Blocks

Story

"Resilient and environmentally friendly infrastructure" is 1 of 3 goals of Oakland's Resilience Strategy. As a major city in the Bay Area, Oakland also sits within one of the most prosperous economic growth engines in the world. The benefits of this growth, as acutely felt in Oakland, are not equitably distributed. Today, particularly among low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, Oakland faces rapidly rising income inequality and housing displacement, disparate unemployment and education rates, and chronic violence. Aging housing stock and public infrastructure challenged by seismic and climate risk further threaten Oakland residents, particularly our most vulnerable communities. Resilient Oakland embraces Oakland’s strengths while tackling the daily and chronic stresses facing Oaklanders today and better preparing for tomorrow’s challenges.

Resources

Organisations Involved

Contributed By

  • Kiran Jain, Chief Resilience Officer, Resilient Oakland

Solution Stage

One of the 7 stages of an innovation. Learn more
STAGE SPECIALIST SKILLS REQUIRED EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES RISK LEVEL AND HANDLING FINANCE REQUIRED KINDS OF EVIDENCE GENERATED GOAL
Developing and testing3
Mix of design and implementation skills
  • Rapid prototyping
  • Service, product and process design
  • Co-design
  • User-design
  • Light-touch evaluation
  • Cost-benefit modelling
  • Randomised control trials
  • High failure rate should be an explicit expectation
  • Visible senior leadership essential
HIGH
  • Grants, convertible grants/loans
MEDIUM
A stronger case with cost and benefit projections developed through practical trials and experiments, involving potential users
Demonstration that the idea works, or evidence to support a reworking of the idea

Submitted By

Janae Futrell

Key Details

Activity