iUTAH-innovative Urban Transitions and Aridregion Hydro-sustainability

该研究基础设施改善（RII）轨道1奖考虑了美国西部面临的最重要的问题之一，即气候变化下当前（和未来）的供水问题，以及日益增长的城市化和对水的需求。该提案的重点是气候变化、水权问题和犹他州内水资源可用性之间的相互作用。该研究考察了水文气候与城市和山地景观的生态和人文方面之间的基本相互作用和动态反馈。该项目汇集了研究型大学、学院、企业、政府和犹他州的居民，以解决与该州生态系统研究、教育和劳动力发展相关的关键问题。智力优势该RII项目针对犹他州未来气候变化下的供水和管理问题。iUTAH建立人力资本，数据和支持基础设施来解决这一艰巨的任务。将建立综合的多学科研究小组，以确定物理系统和人类系统如何相互作用，共同影响水的供应，需求和管理。在仪器、数据收集和专业知识方面的投资，支持犹他州替代水资源未来的建模;以及水资源管理、保护和处理技术的发展。物理观测数据和社会科学调查数据和模型的整合将引导政策制定者、资源管理者和犹他州公民了解可能的水资源未来。可视化工具和公民参与将用于在研究人员和其他团体之间建立双向反馈。这项研究将有助于确定未来的脆弱性和适应技术相关的供水在一个快速增长的状态。更广泛的影响UTAH开发了一套完整的正式和非正式的教育活动，以吸引广泛的选民。活动涵盖K-12学生和教师;本科生、研究生、博士后研究员和教师;公民科学和工业以及联邦政府。努力涉及广泛的地理区域，并承认农村和城市的参与。许多代表性不足的群体广泛参与STEM，如妇女，美洲原住民和西班牙裔人口。iUTAH团队正在与两个博物馆和公民科学计划合作。研究与教育之间有着重要的互动关系，这些活动直接加强了国家科学和技术计划中指出的重要领域。

This Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Track-1 award considers one of the most important problems facing the Western US, the problem of current (and future) water provision under climate change coupled with increasing urbanization and demand for water. The proposal focuses on the interactions between climate change, water rights issues and water availability within Utah. The research examines the fundamental interactions and dynamic feedbacks among hydroclimate and the ecological and human aspects of urban and montane landscapes. The project brings together research universities, colleges, business, government and the residents of Utah to address key issues related to ecosystems research, education, and workforce development in the state.Intellectual MeritThis RII project targets the issue of water supply and management under future climate change within Utah. iUTAH builds the human capital, data, and supporting infrastructure to tackle this demanding task. Integrated, multi-disciplinary research teams will be created to identify how physical systems and human systems interact together to affect water supply, demand and management. Investments in instrumentation, data collection and professional expertise, support the modeling of alternative water futures for Utah; and the development of water management, conservation and treatment technologies.The integration of physical observational data and social science survey data and models will lead efforts to inform policy makers, resource managers and the citizenry of Utah about possible water futures. Visualization tools and citizen engagement will be used to create two way feedbacks between researchers and other groups. This research will help to identify future vulnerabilities and adaptation technologies related to water provision in a rapidly growing state.Broader ImpactsiUTAH develops a full suite of formal and informal educational activities to engage a wide number of constituents. Activities span K-12 students and teachers; undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty; citizen science and industry and federal government. Efforts are geographically broad and recognize rural and urban participation. There is broad engagement of many underrepresented groups in STEM such as women, Native Americans and Hispanic populations. The iUTAH team is partnering with two museums and citizen science programs. There is significant interaction between research and education and the activities directly strengthen areas noted as important within the state Science and Technology Plan.