Resilience Investment Priorities Tool

Quantify relative benefits and costs of resilience project proposals and use a linear programming algorithm to optimize resource allocations.

The current planning process for resilience projects is dominated by advocates for individual projects with little understanding of comprehensive programs that address multiple issues and goals. We propose to develop and implement a process and tool that identifies a program of multiple projects that maximizes total value within resource constraints supported by a linear programming optimization algorithm . 

The tool allows planners to quantify the relative benefits and costs of mitigation project proposals in a framework that selects projects based on different levels of resource availability. It facilitates raising public dialog from arguing pros and cons of individual projects to discussions of regional strategies.

We propose to develop such a framework that would include specific objectives generated by planners with public participation, projects to achieve them, project costs and resource requirements, and provisions for alternative levels of funding and other resources in a linear programming framework. We will populate the model first with data available from previous studies and update it through interviews with current staff members of participating agencies.  The final task would establish an ongoing process for updating data and evaluating proposed projects on a regional basis. 

The product and process would be funded largely by public agencies, however, an initial investment will be needed to develop the prototype.

Initial work will be focused in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. The final product will be marketed to coastal cities worldwide.  

It is a new application of an existing technology. I have used the project selection tool in previous consulting engagements for a variety of clients including a US Air Force research laboratory, a NASA R&D program, technology development agencies of the French and German governments and the Philips Research Laboratory in the Netherlands. 

The technology of linear programming is the basis for my solution.  

Find one or two cities in Hampton Roads interested in using the tool in their resilience planning process. Obtain contracts from the cities to develop it  and support its application.

The solution will help public agencies obtain additional resources for resilience projects as the threat intensifies for the foreseeable future, affecting the lives of all coastal residents in the region. Successful case studies will provide the basis for marketing the solution to coastal cities worldwide.

It will be deployed through municipalities and regional planning agencies. The Army Corps of Engineers might also be interested in adopting the tool and the process.

It is a new solution for resilience planning to respond to sea-level rise. However, we have used the methodology in previous projects for a wide variety of public agencies and private companies including US Air Force and NASA research labs, government agencies in France and Germany, and Philips Research Laboratory in the Netherlands.

The solution will serve coastal residents in urbanized areas of the Hampton Roads region with a population of 1 million, particularly the city of Norfolk with a population of 250,000. Participating city and regional planners will be served during the first year planning period, and coastal residents and businesses will be served as flood mitigation measures are implemented in Hampton Roads and worldwide for the foreseeable future. 

Team members have built consulting companies over 30 years attracting funding from numerous public agencies and private companies. 

Sell consulting services and implement projects

We want to help prepare our region for severe flooding problems by providing an evaluation framework for the many solutions proposed to achieve the best protection achievable within available resources. We also intend to participate in their implementation. Solve can provide the resources needed to start the process.

Although many solutions have been proposed, there is currently no way to develop the most cost-effective plan within available resources and no way to evaluate increased benefits as additional resources are sought. Solve can help by providing the funding needed to develop and implement optimized plans. We may need to demonstrate the process before funding can be obtained from public sources.