Student-Authored Publications on Energy, Environment, and Infrastructure

Aug 28, 2024

Understanding Risks to DAF Installations from Cascading Hazards and Interconnected Energy and Water Infrastructures

The authors of this report describe an approach to improving the Department of the Air Force's ability to assess installation energy and water system vulnerability to the combined effects of natural hazards.

Kristin Van Abel, Scott R. Stephenson, Anu Narayanan, Rahim Ali, Chelsea Kolb, Sophia Charan, Tim Wu, Avery Krovetz, Li Ang Zhang

Aug 1, 2024

Cover: Assessing Public Reach of the 2023 National Test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) System

Assessing Public Reach of the 2023 National Test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) System: Results of a National Survey

The Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system targets alerts to mobile devices. The authors summarize how well U.S. citizens received a 2023 WEA test alert based on a nationally representative survey of the public directly following the alert.

Andrew M. Parker, Rachel Steratore, Melissa A. Bradley, Salimah LaForce, Dulani Woods, Claude Messan Setodji, Gabriel W. Hassler, Devin Tierney, Carlos A. Villegas, Gary Cecchine, Brian A. Jackson, Chuck Story, Katie A. Wilson, Mohammad Ahmadi, Jan Osburg

Jun 21, 2024

Cover: The use of AI for improving energy security

The use of AI for improving energy security: Exploring the risks and opportunities of the deployment of AI applications in the electricity system

AI can increase the overall energy security in the electricity system, but the opportunities and risks are not well understood. This report provides insight into the state of the art of AI for the power grid, and the risks and opportunities.

Henri van Soest, Ismael Arciniegas Rueda, Hye Min Park, Bryden Spurling, Austin Wyatt, Harper Fine, Joshua Steier, Melusine Lebret

Jun 21, 2024

The use of AI for improving energy security: Quantitative exploration of the opportunities of the deployment of AI applications in the electricity system

AI can increase the overall energy security in the electricity system, but the opportunities and risks are not well understood. This technical report provides insight into our modelling approach for AI in the power grid.

Ismael Arciniegas Rueda, Hye Min Park, Joshua Steier, Henri van Soest, Harper Fine, Melusine Lebret

Jun 11, 2024

Cover: Threats to Critical Infrastructure

Threats to Critical Infrastructure: A Survey

In this report, the authors analyze infrastructure threats and hazards and examine vectors by which an adversary might conduct attacks. They also look at other impacts resulting from infrastructure age and maintenance and from weather challenges.

Bridget R. Kane, Stephen Webber, Katherine H. Tucker, Sam Wallace, Joan Chang, Devin McCarthy, Dennis Murphy, Daniel Egel, Tom Wingfield

Jun 11, 2024

Cover: Defending the United States Against Critical Infrastructure Attacks

Defending the United States Against Critical Infrastructure Attacks: Exploring a Hypothetical Campaign of Cascading Impacts

In this report, the authors discuss threats to critical infrastructure in the United States and provide a hypothetical case study that examines several phases of an adversarial attack on the United States.

Bridget R. Kane, Stephen Webber, Katherine H. Tucker, Sam Wallace, Joan Chang, Devin McCarthy, Dennis Murphy, Daniel Egel, Tom Wingfield

Apr 22, 2024

Cover: Assessing Risk to National Critical Functions as a Result of Climate Change

Assessing Risk to National Critical Functions as a Result of Climate Change: 2023 Risk Assessment Update

Researchers assessed the risk that eight climate hazards will pose to National Critical Functions by 2050 and 2100 under future scenarios following current and higher emissions trends.

Michelle E. Miro, Susan A. Resetar, Andrew Lauland, David Metz, Vanessa Wolf, Rahim Ali, Jay Balagna, Jason Thomas Barnosky, R. J. Briggs, Edward W. Chan, Shira H. Fischer, Quentin E. Hodgson, Geoffrey Kirkwood, Chelsea Kolb, Jenna W. Kramer, John Lee, Kristin J. Leuschner, Shannon Prier, Mark Stalczynski, Patricia A. Stapleton, Scott R. Stephenson, Tobias Sytsma, Kristin Van Abel, Michael J. D. Vermeer, Brian Wong

Apr 18, 2024

Informing Clean Energy Planning in California's San Joaquin Valley

This report describes the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) Clean Energy Portfolio Toolkit to help SJV decisionmakers explore how the region might harness its resources to achieve broad prosperity by participating in California’s clean energy transition.

Nidhi Kalra, Robert J. Lempert, Hye Min Park, Javier Rojas Aguilera, Greg C. Wright, Tobias Sytsma, Weilong Kong

Mar 27, 2024

Cover: Improving Assessments in Emergency Management

Improving Assessments in Emergency Management: Analysis of the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment and the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

The Federal Emergency Management Agency requires two assessments for participation in certain grant programs. Researchers report their findings from a thorough review of the assessment processes and potential improvements to those processes.

Jason Thomas Barnosky, Andrew Lauland, Jessica Jensen, Susan A. Resetar, Sara Stullken, Jay Balagna, R. J. Briggs, Christy Foran, Emily Hoch, Kristin J. Leuschner, Karen M. Sudkamp, Rachel Steratore

Mar 26, 2024

Incident Management Measurement Toolkit

This toolkit is designed to assess the effectiveness of incident management during and after real-life public health incidents and realistic exercises, which will help incident managers identify opportunities for improvement.

Christopher Nelson, Aaron Clark-Ginsberg, Vanessa Parks, Jalal Awan, Jay Balagna, Laura Fraade-Blanar, Grace Hindmarch

Mar 26, 2024

Cover: Extreme Weather and Climate Hazard Impacts on Energy and Water Utilities

Extreme Weather and Climate Hazard Impacts on Energy and Water Utilities: Implications for Department of the Air Force Installation Climate Resilience Planning

Researchers developed an approach for estimating utility system exposure to extreme weather- and climate-related hazards to inform at which installations the Department of the Air Force might consider prioritizing deep-dive vulnerability assessments.

Kristin Van Abel, Abbie Tingstad, Rahim Ali, Christy Foran, Beth E. Lachman, Vanessa Wolf, Hye Min Park, Joshua Steier, Brian Wong

Nov 29, 2023

Cover: Mischief, Malevolence, or Indifference?

Mischief, Malevolence, or Indifference? How Competitors and Adversaries Could Exploit Climate-Related Conflict in the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility

This report presents an analysis of how U.S. competitors and adversaries — China, Russia, and Iran — could attempt to exploit climate-related conflict in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in future decades.

Howard J. Shatz, Karen M. Sudkamp, Jeffrey Martini, Mohammad Ahmadi, Derek Grossman, Kotryna Jukneviciute