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The Handbook of Infrastructure Communication

Keri K. Stephens (Edited by), Stephens (Author), Kasey M. Faust (Edited by)

9781394236824, Wiley

Hardback, published 21 May 2026

496 pages
25.4 x 18.8 x 3.3 cm, 1.157 kg

Presents groundbreaking approaches for bridging engineering expertise and human-centered communication in infrastructure systems

Infrastructure systems sustain daily life yet are often overlooked until they fail, at which point communication gaps can hinder effective responses and solutions. The Handbook of Infrastructure Communication addresses this critical challenge by establishing ”infrastructure communication” as a distinct interdisciplinary field. Bringing together insights from engineering, communication science, and social science, this handbook offers practical frameworks for translating complex technical information across disciplinary and stakeholder boundaries.

The Handbook is organized into six parts, covering foundations of infrastructure communication, physical systems such as water, transportation, and energy, digital communication ecosystems, social networks, cross-cultural strategies, and crisis communication during disasters. Each section combines theoretical analysis with applied examples, including discussions of underserved communities, the integration of AI in infrastructure, and the unique vulnerabilities exposed during extreme weather events. The contributors—engineers, communication researchers, social justice experts, and practitioners—offer diverse perspectives while embedding human-centered approaches within infrastructure planning and management. Throughout the book, in-depth yet accessible chapters demonstrate how effective communication can secure investments, enhance resilience, and ensure infrastructure meets the needs of society at large.

Equipping readers to foster collaboration and create infrastructure that is technically sound and socially supported, this reference work:

  • Examines social and cultural contexts that shape public acceptance and equitable access to infrastructure
  • Provides frameworks for engaging communities in decision-making and addressing systemic inequities
  • Offers practical strategies for communicating numeric complexity and visualizing technical information effectively
  • Highlights resilience strategies for crises, including wildfires, floods, and severe weather events
  • Reviews funding mechanisms and interdisciplinary approaches relevant to current U.S. and global initiatives

The Handbook of Infrastructure Communication is ideal for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and scholars in engineering, communication, and urban planning, as well as professionals in infrastructure policy and management. It is particularly well-suited for courses in systems engineering, organizational communication, environmental communication, and urban design, and serves as an essential reference for engineers, planners, policymakers, and crisis communicators.

List of Contributors ix

Editor Bios xiii

Part 1 Frameworks, Foundations, and Stakeholders in Infrastructure Communication

1 Changing Nature of Communicating Around Infrastructure 3
Kasey M. Faust and Keri K. Stephens

2 Understanding Stakeholders Involved in the “Communicating About Infrastructure” Space 13
Megan A. Rippy

3 Using Mixed Methods to Explore Socio- Technical Infrastructure Systems 29
Amal Bakchan, Shima Nikkhou and Michel Kordahi

4 Federal Infrastructure Investment: Bridging Policy and Engineering Practice 47
Lauryn A. Spearing and John A. Kane

5 Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Infrastructure Communication and Social Disparities 59
Rahul Mitra, Brendan F. O’Leary, Uttaran Dutta, Carol J. Miller and Allison Lucas Copyrighted Material

6 Making Justice REAL: Bringing Infrastructure Front and Center 81
Daniel Erian Armanios, Hanzelle Kleeman, Nicola Ritsch and Cari Gandy

Part II Essential Infrastructure in the Built Environment: Systems and Society

7 Interconnected Energy Systems and Communications Infrastructure 97
Sergio Castellanos

8 Transportation Infrastructure 111
Kyle Bathgate, Shidong Pan and Stephen D. Boyles

9 Public Involvement in Transportation Planning 125
Courtney J. Powers and Susan Howard

10 Is My Water Safe to Drink? 141
Lynn E. Katz and Matthew R. Landsman

11 Indigenous Water Infrastructure: Lessons from Alaska Native Communities 161
Marcus Nartey, Cristina Poleacovschi and Christina Gish Hill

12 Water Reuse Infrastructure 173
Miriam Hacker, Caroline Scruggs, Anais Roque and Bridget Yusko

13 Colonias with a Lack of Infrastructure 183
Dean Kyne

Part III Digital Communication Ecosystems: Networks, Data, and Intelligence

14 The Digital Backbone: Modern Communication Infrastructure’s Role in Society 199
Sharon Strover

15 Connecting Humanity from Submarine Cables to Starlink: How to Communicate About the Digital Infrastructures of the Internet 213
Lauren Bevilacqua and Luke Heemsbergen

16 Cyberinfrastructure: Managing and Transforming Big Data for Infrastructure Development 225
Kerk F. Kee and Cassandra Hayes

17 Artificial Intelligence Supporting Infrastructure Decisions 237
Krishna Kumar

18 A New Era for Social Media Analytics in Emergency Management Using a Human- Centered Approach 255
Amanda L. Hughes, Steve Peterson and Hemant Purohit

Part IV Infrastructure and Society: Social Networks and Community Engagement

19 Social Care Infrastructure: A Framework for Comparing Municipal, State, and National Investments in the Provision of Social Care 271
Michelle Shumate, Yeha Kim and Marwa Tahboub

20 Creating a Model for Communication to Expand Capacity and Build Infrastructure for Community Environmental Justice Efforts 285
Megan Kenny Feister and Sean Michael Ferguson

21 How to Manage Controversies? Making an AI- Based Corporate Technology, Becoming a Political Player 297
Jean Daniélou, Mohamed Chenene and Julien Merlin

Part V Communicating Complex Infrastructure: Strategies Across Formats and Cultures

22 Instructional Communication Messages in Infrastructure 311
Timothy L. Sellnow and Deanna D. Sellnow

23 Persuasive Message Design for Infrastructure Communication 323
Matthew S. McGlone and Claude Miller

24 Using Visualization to Communicate About Infrastructure and Make Decisions 337
Keri K. Stephens, Emaly Aguilar and Suzanne A. Pierce

25 Strategies for Communicating Complex Numeric Information about Infrastructure Projects 355
Daniel A. Chapman, Tingyu Zou and Ellen Peters

26 Incorporating Culture into Messages About Infrastructure 365
Roselia Mendez Murillo

27 Nuances of Multilingual Risk Communication 379
Joseph E. Trujillo- Falcón

Part VI Infrastructure in Crisis: Emergency Communication and Resilience Strategies

28 Wireless Emergency Alerts 393
Hamilton Bean

29 Organizational Crisis Communication: The Effects of Social Media Platforms and Beyond 407
W. Timothy Coombs

30 Advancing Flood Resilience Through AI- Enhanced Mapping Strategies 419
Russell Blessing, Miguel Esparza, Ali Mostafavidarani and Samuel D. Brody

31 Challenges Explaining Wildfire Water Infrastructure Contamination 431
Erica Fischer

32 Severe Weather and Infrastructure: A Case Study in Communicating Extreme Heat Risks with Public Health Professionals 441
Brett W. Robertson, Kirstin Dow, Susan L. Cutter, Julie Salinas, Greg Carbone and April Hiscox

33 Older Adults and Mobility- Impaired Individuals in Infrastructure- Related Disasters: Strategies for Effective Preparedness and Communication 451
Brett W. Robertson and Margot Habets

34 A Framework for Infrastructure Communication 463
Keri K. Stephens and Kasey M. Faust

Index 473

Subject Areas: Sociology & anthropology [JH]
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