Aging and Failing Infrastructure

This module provides a roadmap to understanding trends that lead to infrastructure failure, and potential impacts to the nation’s critical infrastructure systems.

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Resource List

These resources provide a baseline understanding of key issues related to the complex problem of aging and failing infrastructure systems, and may be updated as new data becomes available.

Organizations:

• American Society of Civil Engineers: Publishes the Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, which is widely referenced in discussions of the condition of infrastructure assets and systems. The latest Infrastructure Report Cards and sub-reports can be accessed at http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/.
• Department of Homeland Security, Office of Infrastructure Protection: Leads and coordinates national programs and policies on critical infrastructure security and resilience, and has established partnerships across government and private sector to coordinate infrastructure protection activities with stakeholders for 16 critical infrastructure sectors identified in Presidential Policy Directive 21. Conducts vulnerability and consequence assessments and offers tools to help stakeholders understand and address risks. More information at https://www.dhs.gov/office-infrastructure-protection. Information on the 16 critical infrastructure sectors and their Sector-Specific Agencies can be found at https://www.dhs.gov/criticalinfrastructure-sectors. Additional specific sector resources are listed below.
• Department of Homeland Security, Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis: Conducts analysis on a range of infrastructure topics in support of DHS efforts to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure through integrated analytical approaches, evaluating consequences of disruption from physical or cyber incidents. More information at https://www.dhs.gov/office-cyber-infrastructure-analysis. Products are restricted-access.
• George Mason University, Center for Infrastructure Protection and Homeland Security: Publishes the CIP Report, which has dedicated numerous issues to the topic of aging infrastructure and infrastructure failure. Current and past editions can be found at http://cip.gmu.edu/category/the-cip-report/.

Sector-Specific Resources:

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Maintains the National Inventory of Dams. The full 2016 inventory, including interactive report and maps, is accessible at https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=760140.
• U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration: Responsible for ensuring safe transportation of energy and hazardous materials, their most recent report on the state of the national pipeline infrastructure can be found at https://opsweb.phmsa.dot.gov/pipelineforum/docs/Secretarys%20Infrastructure%20Report_Revised%20per%20PHC_103111.pdf.
• U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration: Maintains the National Bridge Inventory, National Tunnel Inventory, and list of Deficient Bridges by Highway System, which can be accessed at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/deficient.cfm.
• U.S. Energy Information Administration: Provides statistics and analysis on energy infrastructure. The 2016 International Energy Outlook report can be accessed at https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/ieo/world.cfm.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Sector-specific agency for the Water and Wastewater Sector. Information on Sustainable Water Infrastructure initiative can be found at https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure.

Recent Publications:

• 2017 Infrastructure Report Card: Published by the American Society of Civil Engineers, this report, issued every four years, assesses the current condition of infrastructure across the country. Additional reports include sector-specific or region-specific analysis, as well as economic impacts. Reports and roll-ups can be found at https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org, Web, 10 March 2017.
• Failure to Act: Closing the Infrastructure Investment Gap for America’s Economic Future: Report by the American Society of Civil Engineers. An update to their previous report, “Failure to Act: The Impact of Infrastructure Investment on America’s Economic Future.” Discusses the complex economic impacts of investment in infrastructure, or lack thereof.
  • Citation: American Society of Civil Engineers, “Failure to Act: Closing the Infrastructure Investment Gap for America’s Economic Future,” 2016. https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/the-impact/failure-to-act-report/
• 40 Proposed U.S. Transportation and Water Infrastructure Projects of Major Economic Significance: Prepared by the Department of the Treasury as part of the Build America Investment Initiative, this report discusses the economic impact of infrastructure investments.
  • Citation: Information at https://www.treasury.gov/connect/blog/Pages/Importance-of-InfrastructureInvestment-for-Spurring-Growth-.aspx, full text at https://www.treasury.gov/connect/blog/Documents/final-infrastructure-report.pdf, Web, 10 March 2017.

Other Resources:

• 2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review: Interdependent and aging critical infrastructure systems and networks were identified in the 2014 QHSR as key driver in the strategic homeland security environment.
  • Citation: Department of Homeland Security, “2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review,” 18 June 2014.
  • Citation: Abstract and link to pdf can be found at https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=755060, Web, 10 March 2017.
• Quadrennial Energy Review: Transforming the Nation’s Electricity System: Published as the second installment of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis Quadrennial Energy Review, this document discusses the strategic security and economic criticality of the electric system.
  • Citation: Information at https://energy.gov/epsa/quadrennial-energy-review-qer, full text at https://www.energy.gov/epsa/quadrennial-energy-review-second-installment, Web, 10 March
    2017.
• Presidential Policy Directive 21—Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience: While it does not directly address aging infrastructure, PPD-21 provides executive branch direction focusing on improving resilience of infrastructure systems, understanding the complex nature of cascading consequences of infrastructure failures, and developing comprehensive research and development.
  • Citation: “Presidential Policy Directive 21—Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience,” 12 February 2013.
  • Citation: Full text at https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-pressoffice/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil, Web, 10 March 2017.
• Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or “FAST Act”: Signed in 2015 to provide long-term funding for planning and investment in surface transportation.
  • Citation: Information at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact/, full text at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact/legislation.cfm, Web, 10 March 2017

These materials were developed as an initiative of the Advanced Thinking in Homeland Security (HSx) curriculum at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security.