Across North Carolina, cities and towns are navigating growing pressures from flooding and extreme weather events like Hurricane Helene and last summer’s Tropical Storm Chantal. Meanwhile, many are contending with aging infrastructure, rapid growth and rising costs.
Policymakers will join practitioners, researchers and technology partners at Duke University on Feb. 18 for a practical discussion about how North Carolina municipalities can move toward smarter infrastructure systems. The Twin Talks North Carolina event will kick off an effort to enhance flood mitigation and stormwater planning in the Durham-Chapel Hill area using emerging technological solutions.
The event will also launch Built to Endure: A Smart Guide for U.S. Cities to Build Resilient Infrastructure that Lasts, a national guide developed by Duke University, Bentley Systems, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), AECOM and Microsoft. The guide outlines how municipalities can mitigate the impact of natural hazards on infrastructure and communities by applying systems thinking, improving policies and regulations, expanding the use of digital tools and empowering communities.
The event is scheduled to feature keynote remarks from U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee and Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson, followed by a panel discussion. Additional speakers include:
- Jerry Lynch, Vinik Dean of Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University
- Elizabeth Losos, Executive in Residence, Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Duke University
- Rory Linehan, Director of Infrastructure Policy Advancement, Bentley Systems
- Nick Novelli, ENV SP, Associate – High Performance Buildings, AECOM
- Stuart Brown, Flood Resiliency Blueprint Program Manager, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Media are invited to cover the panel discussion portion of the event, which runs from 6:30–7:30 p.m. Feb. 18.
