Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

The archipelago of Puerto Rico is prone to multiple hazards due to its very particular location in the Caribbean and its frequent exposure to extreme natural events. Since 2017, the Island has faced hurricanes, tropical storms, a sequence of earthquakes, drought, and various flood events caused by extreme cyclonic rainfall that have caused damage to coastal infrastructure. To support Puerto Rico's recovery after Hurricane María, numerous projects were developed and implemented. Many of these projects were funded through FEMA and acted as key catalysts for response, recovery, and public policy. FEMA's Mitigation Assessment Team, also known as MAT, developed recommendations to rebuild a more resistant infrastructure. Among the key recommendations is the adoption of the Puerto Rico Building Code of 2018. To facilitate the transfer of knowledge to the community in general (students, teachers, professionals, first responders and the workforce), the Center for Coastal Resilience (CRC) established two educational programs: the first is a continuing education program open to the general public; and the second is a formal program for university students that includes courses leading to degrees, projects, research, and internships. Adoption of the latest building codes and FEMA recommendations provide the tools for a resilient coastal infrastructure. The continuing education program has impacted 2,311 community members to date, increasing their knowledge and understanding of the different stages of prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and risk mitigation of coastal infrastructure.

Abstract

The damage caused to Puerto Rico's infrastructure by Hurricane María in 2017 and the seismic sequence in 2020 provided evidence that, after a natural disaster, the collaboration of different disciplines is necessary to rebuild the damaged infrastructure using new paradigms. To develop a new generation of engineering and architecture professionals who work in an integrated way to face the challenges caused by natural events, the Resilient Infrastructure and Sustainability Education - Undergraduate Program (RISE-UP) was created. The program is structured using a collaborative platform between three campuses of the University of Puerto Rico system and is based on an interdisciplinary approach using Project-Based Learning (PBL). RISE-UP consists of four courses that are part of a minor degree that is complemented by internship and undergraduate research opportunities. The courses are taken sequentially in a process that starts with the presentation of basic content and techniques, to the application of that knowledge in an integrated design project. To date, a total of 64 students have entered the program, divided into two cohorts according to their admission into the program. Students in both cohorts reflect the diversity that the project seeks in terms of specialty area, campus, and gender. The results of the student evaluations indicate that 100% of the students find the PBL methodology "valuable" or "very valuable" to understand the importance of a sustainable and resilient infrastructure, putting into practice the concepts learned. This program serves as an example of the benefits of information technology integrations to allow students from different campuses to work together toward a
common goal.