Please note: participation in this workshop is by invitation only. If you are interested in attending please contact Erika Haldi.
Tuesday, June 24
8:30 a.m.
Registration & Networking
9:00 a.m.
Welcome & Introductions
Speakers
- Bilal Ayyub, Ph.D., P.E., Dist.M.ASCE, Professor & Director of the Center for Technology and Systems Management, University of Maryland (UMD)
- Tom Smith, CAE, ENV SP, F.ASCE, Executive Director, ASCE
9:15 a.m.
Opening Remarks & Facilitated Discussion
Speakers
- Feniosky Pena-Mora, Sc.D, P.E., NAS, CCM, F.CIOB, NAC, Dist.M.ASCE, 2025 ASCE President
10:00 a.m.
Overview of Workshop Goals Building on ASCE-NOAA Task Force Efforts
Speakers
- Amanda McCarty, ASCE-NOAA Task Force Co-chair
- Dan Walker, Ph.D., A.M.ASCE, ASCE-NOAA Task Force Co-chair
10:30 a.m.
Networking Break
11:00 a.m.
Session 1a: Importance of Infrastructure Investment for Local, State, and National Economies
Speakers
- Darren Olson, P.E., BC.WRE, M.ASCE, Chair, ASCE Committee on America's Infrasrtucture
Moderator
- Maria Lehman, P.E., ENV SP, NAC, NAE, 2023 ASCE President
Description
Investment in the built environment, including private and commercial real estate and civil infrastructure development, is a fundamental driver of economic development at the local, state, and national levels. Each year, the United States sees roughly $2.1 trillion dollars in construction value put in place, representing hundreds of thousands of jobs and income for American workers. America’s infrastructure is the foundation on which our national economy, global competitiveness, and quality of life depend. This session will explore how recent investments in infrastructure have not only raised America’s overall GPA to a C in the 2025 ASCE Infrastructure Report Card, but how long-term investments in infrastructure and the built environment can have long lasting economic impacts.
11:45 a.m.
Session 1b: Losses from Natural Hazard Related Disasters
Speakers
- Adam Smith
- Annes Haseemkunju, Ph. D., Director, Science & Analytics
Moderator
- David Easterling
Description
Understanding the changes in our built and natural environment are increasingly important to manage future risk from extreme environmental conditions. Population growth, how and where we build play a big role in the increasing number and costly extreme events across the country. We also know from extreme event attribution research that human-caused climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of certain types of extreme weathers—most notably the rise in vulnerability to drought, lengthening wildfire seasons in the Western states, and the potential for extremely heavy rainfall becoming more common in the eastern states. Over the last ten years, the U.S. has been impacted by at least 190 separate billion-dollar disasters that have killed more than 6,300 people and caused more than $1.4 trillion in damage. The U.S. coastline has been impacted by landfalling Category 4 or 5 hurricanes in six of the last eight years. There have been twenty-six separate billion-dollar flooding events over the last 15 years exceeding the 19 separate billion-dollar flood events that occurred during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s combined. Over the last decade, there has been a notable increase in both the geography and frequency of billion-dollar wildfire events in parts of California, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Tennessee and Hawaii.
12:30 p.m.
Networking Lunch & Group Photo
1:30 p.m.
Session 2a: Financial Risks and Drivers
Speakers
- Willy Accame, Hamilton Development
- Mary Clare Maxwell, Northern Trust Bank
- Jeff Bray, Prologis
Moderator
- Holly Neber, AEI Consultants
Description
In order to effectively drive progress on hazard resilience, real estate decisions must incorporate risk and resilience throughout the design, development, financing, and operation of an asset. The cost of construction is increasing, so costlier buildings and infrastructure are being damaged by floods, storms, and fires. The research community produces a wealth of historical simulations, projections, and models of weather extremes, but more is needed for the real estate community to fully integrate resiliency. This panel will explore how developers, lenders, and owners of commercial real estate balance hazard resilience with the economics that drive their business.
2:15 p.m.
Session 2b: Products and Services for Risk Management
Speakers
- Allison Crimmins
- Steve Bowen, Gallagher Re Inc.
- Jim Waller, Guy Carpenter
Moderator
- Ellen Mecray
Description
Emerging products and services for risk preparedness at appropriate time horizons.
3:00 p.m.
Networking Break
3:15 p.m.
Session 3a: Dollars and Cents of Disaster Reduction
Speakers
- TBD
Moderator
- David Butry, NIST
Description
Improved infrastructure investment strategies and prioritization to reduce damage and losses from disasters can realize resilience and economic growth. Such strategies can improve current and long-term returns on investments (ROIs) and create co-benefits for state and local governments. Investment strategies that include the role of insurance, finance opportunities, and improved infrastructure performance are needed. This panel will explore how engineers, developers, lenders, and insurance policies can work within a framework that considers multiple perspectives for improved resilience and economic growth.
4:00 p.m.
Session 3b: Evolution of Building Codes and Standards (Putting Knowledge into Practice)
4:45 p.m.
Day 1 Closing & Adjourn
Wednesday, June 25
8:30 a.m.
Registration & Networking
9:00 a.m.
Welcome to Day 2
9:30 a.m.
Session 4a-1: Case Studies - Exploring Real World Implementation of Resilient Infrastructure - Flooding
Speakers
- TBD
Moderator
- TBD
10:30 a.m.
Session 4a-2: Case Studies - Exploring Real World Implementation of Resilient Infrastructure -Wildfire
Speakers
- TBD
Moderator
- TBD
11:30 a.m.
Networking Luncheon
12:30 p.m.
Session 4b: Products and Services for Architecture and Engineering
Speakers
- Tom Delworth
- Kelly Mahoney
Moderator
- Chris Clavin, NIST
- TBD
- TBD
- Bilal Ayyub, Ph.D., P.E., Dist.M.ASCE, Professor & Director of the Center for Technology and Systems Management, University of Maryland (UMD)
Description
Together” is the key word in interdisciplinary relationships like the one between NOAA and ASCE. Without effective translation of our agency’s science into practical use, the best data is meaningless. This session will explore the beginning, middle, and end of this process, showing the state of the art at NOAA for forward-looking modeling, a report from the translation trenches, and perspectives on being at the recipient end of the value chain.
1:30 p.m.
Session 5: Synthesis - Working Together for Resilient Infrastructure Development
Speakers
Moderator
Description
Technical and business perspectives on working together, exploring opportunities to understand financial incentives to work collaboratively with builders, lenders, owners, insurers, and risk managers and making the case for sensible action to increase safety and reduce property loss.
2:30 p.m.
Key takeaways and summary
Speaker
3:00 p.m.
Workshop Adjourns