Mediating radical transformations in infrastructure provision
This project uniquely unpicks the potential for radical change in infrastructure through the allegory of medical trauma.
Project leader
Prof Stephanie Glendinning
Dates
2011-2013
Project staff
Dr Mark Powell
Dr Claire Walsh
Sponsors
EPSRC
Partners
Dr Vanesa Castan Broto, UCL
Dr Emma Dewberry, Open University
ARUP
CIRIA
IBM
National Grid
Network Rail
RSSB, UCL
University of Manchester
Description
This project challenged infrastructure stakeholders to move out of their comfort zone. It encouraged them to challenge the current organisation of infrastructure in silos. It got them to rethink the nature of shocks. They devised new and transformative ways of thinking about infrastructure.
SHOCK aimed to develop a concept of infrastructure resilience through a series of:
- interviews
- workshops
- case study development
It did this by using shocks as a way of highlighting the interdependencies of existing infrastructure systems.
It identified the weak points in infrastructure. It explored ways to improve infrastructure by restoring it to a better state after the shock. This is preferable to reinstating what was there before the shock.