Can New Rating System Improve U.S. Infrastructure's Failing Grade?

The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) in collaboration with the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) have launched a  new infrastructure rating system designed to help policy makers evaluate the sustainability of infrastructure, set realistic national priorities, and conduct a national discourse on infrastructure investment.

The system, called Envision, is a complete framework of assessment for major civil infrastructure project types, scales, contexts, and project phases. It’s meant to be used by infrastructure owners, engineers, contractors and regulators at all major infrastructure project stages, from planning and design to construction, operations and maintenance, and decommissioning. It takes  environmental, economic, and community benefits into account.

“Its purpose is to foster a necessary and dramatic improvement in the performance and resiliency of physical infrastructure,” said ISI’s executive director, Bill Bertera, in a release.

“The professionals who design and build these projects face a tall order to satisfy ever-growing demand for infrastructure, while at the same time responsibly addressing potential environmental and economic effects,” said Tim Psomas, chair of the ISI board of directors.

“Envision will allow project sponsors to better articulate the costs and benefits of infrastructure development by revealing the full value of projects including contributions to job creation, triple bottom line outcomes (social, environmental, economic), enhancements to community resilience and regional competitiveness.”

The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure is a not-for-profit association of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Council of Engineering Companies and the American Public Works Association.  ASCE also administers America’s Infrastructure Report Card, the results of which showed that, as of 2009, $2.2 trillion was needed over five years to close the U.S. infrastructure gap.

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