CIVIC-FA Track A: Reimagining Urban Resilience and Education Hubs Using a Community-Engaged, Equity-Centered Approach

城市地区越来越多地认识到对公平高效地提供电力、互联网连接和其他基本服务的需求。由于气候变化加剧了极端天气事件的频率和严重程度，有证据表明，历史上被边缘化的社区受到了不成比例的影响。这个公民创新挑战项目试点了一个韧性、教育和宣传中心的灾害准备（REACH）中心，使用了与社区和公民合作伙伴共同开发的设计。便携式太阳能REACH中心提供灾前和灾后必需品和连接，同时在非紧急情况下提供动手学习。该中心战略性地安置在社会经济脆弱地区，预计将以更公平的方式改善灾害反应和恢复。该REACH中心基于合作伙伴机构和社区反馈以及佛罗里达中部独特的技术考虑，重点关注设计过程各个阶段的公平性。它具有最先进的直流-交流混合电路，可实现高效，灵活和不断发展的发电和模块化设备资产操作。在非紧急时期，该中心的教育课程包括利用虚拟现实和增强现实进行互动和沉浸式学习，并纳入先进的地理空间灾害和社会脆弱性数据。在社区伙伴地点进行了多次紧急和非紧急试运行示范，以改进可操作性和社区参与的研究实践。采用以公平为中心的全风险方法，结合机器学习技术来优化枢纽的运行和部署。模块化设计可以扩大或修改，以满足其他灾害易发社区的需求。公民创新挑战赛是能源部、国土安全部和国家科学基金会的合作项目。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Urban areas are increasingly identifying the recurring need for equitable and efficient delivery of electricity, internet connectivity, and other essential services. As climate change is exacerbating the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, evidence shows that historically marginalized communities have been disproportionately impacted. This Civic Innovation Challenge project pilots a Resilience, Education, and Advocacy Center for Hazard preparedness (REACH) hub using a design co-developed with the community and civic partners. The portable, solar-powered REACH hub provides pre- and post-disaster necessities and connectivity while offering hands-on learning during non-emergency times. With strategic placement in socioeconomically vulnerable areas, the hub is expected to improve disaster response and recovery in a more equitable way.This REACH hub is based on partner agency and community feedback and technical considerations unique to Central Florida, with a focus on equity in all stages of the design process. It features a state-of-the-art hybrid DC-AC circuit that allows for efficient, flexible, and evolving operation of power generation and modular appliance assets. During non-emergency times, the educational curriculum at the hub includes interactive and immersive learning using virtual and augmented reality and incorporating advanced geospatial hazard and social vulnerability data. There are multiple emergency and non-emergency test-run demonstrations at community partner locations to improve operability and community-engaged research practices. An equity-centered, all-hazards approach coupled with machine learning techniques is applied to optimize the operation and deployment of the hub. The modular design enables scale-up or modification for meeting the need of other disaster-prone communities.The CIVIC Innovation Challenge is a collaboration with Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, and the National Science Foundation.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.