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Aii Asks: Do you think America should Rebuild Better starting now?

21 Sep 2020, Posted by bdierker in Aii Asks, All Posts, Blog Posts

Infrastructure Week, hosted by United For Infrastructure and partnered with many organizations including Aii, has come to a close. The virtual conference included panels, papers, and perspective across the nation and from all backgrounds. The year’s theme is “Rebuild Better” with special emphasis on rebuilding America’s infrastructure, incorporating resilience, and…

What We Are Reading

08 Sep 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

At Aii, we love to read. We are always looking for new perspectives, expert analysis, and fresh insight to inform our approach to problem solving. We often read through newsletters and journalistic articles, as well as studies and reports from universities and think tanks. But, sometimes it takes a book…

Aii Asks: Do you want more offshore wind energy?

31 Aug 2020, Posted by bdierker in Aii Asks, All Posts, Blog Posts

Wind energy is often harnessed in large fields and land across the U.S. and around the world. What if we used the ocean and waterways to expand where we collect wind and take advantage of coastal winds? Would it be an eyesore or harm wildlife? Does the prospect of renewable…

Power Storage: A Need Gaining Speed

28 Aug 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

The further you may be from the electrical grid, the more likely it is that you recognize the importance of energy storage. If you have access to abundant, reliable energy, then consider how far you would travel without a cell phone battery pack. An extra battery allows you to turn…

New Report Examines History and Trajectory of One-Call Centers and Damage Prevention Efforts

27 Aug 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts, Newsletter

Washington D.C, District of Columbia – August 27, 2020 – The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) today released a new report for industry leaders and public officials entitled ‘811: One-Call Before You Dig | The Development and Future of Damage Prevention Efforts’ reviewing the history of One-Call centers and raising…

(Re)building for Resilience

20 Aug 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Riding Out The Storms Ahead Models from researchers and meteorologists predicted a forceful hurricane season in the Atlantic this year. If these predictions hold, we can expect millions of dollars in damage to electrical transmission and distribution lines, roads and levees, and other local infrastructure along the coast. Knowing these…

The Longest Running Statistic

18 Aug 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

Beneath Our Feet Underground utilities in America run for millions of miles. These make possible the basics of modern American life, carrying water, energy resources, electricity, cable, Internet, and phone service. Often we see utilities over our heads, like electrical lines, or even along the sidewalk, like pad-mounted transformer boxes….

Support Us While You Shop!

22 Jul 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts

  Do you buy things? Do you shop on Amazon? Now you can support Aii while you shop. And the best part is that you won’t spend an extra dime to do it. A half percent of your eligible purchases benefit us, and Amazon handles the donation. What you need…

State-Owned Security Concerns for Transit Rail

01 Jul 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

  China has not been shy about its expansion into global markets. Through the Made in China 2025 and Belt and Road Initiative, the communist nation has broadcast its intention to be more involved around the world, to project power, and to integrate itself in the infrastructure, economics, and politics…

Hands-Free Doors Are Essential For Public Health

24 Jun 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

  Public door handles and knobs are some of the most touched surfaces imaginable. The constant entry and egress at stores, restrooms, gas stations, and offices mean people are touching grease, grime, and germs. Perhaps central to conversations around hygiene are bathrooms. Many practices and procedures emphasize hand washing. But…

Under Our Streets

19 May 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

  Under city streets, through countless acres of open fields, across bridges, and over mountains, pipelines quietly deliver energy resources throughout North America. “Pipelines” generally conjure up images of large diameter pipes transporting crude oil. However, there are numerous types of pipelines as well; water, sewage, brine waste, and even…

COVID-19 Gave Our Roads A Break, But Not The Highway Trust Fund

07 May 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

    Lockdowns and stay-at-home orders mean fewer cars on the road. This must mean the nation’s roads get a break from the daily wear and tear of millions of vehicles pounding the pavement. But this historic time only highlights another historic moment: the insolvency of our nation’s Highway Trust…

Terraforming Mars versus Combatting Climate Change

06 May 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

  nnovators and explorers at heart dream of one day terraforming Mars – converting it into a habitable, blue and green world. But there seems to be dichotomy over what humans can truly achieve. With the same breath, some lament humanity’s inability to control the pace and severity of climate…

Facility Safety Failures Harm More Than Just Excavation Crews

04 May 2020, Posted by bdierker in All Posts, Blog Posts

  Excavating any site can be risky. Even when all the proper procedures are followed, the 20 million miles of underground facilities can cause dozens of complications. Maps can be incomplete, locators can mark improperly, and excavators can misjudge their dig. At its worst, these mistakes and oversights can result…