This document summarizes a presentation about a website called InfraInput.org that aims to start a conversation about public infrastructure issues. It discusses how public infrastructure enables society and the economy. It notes problems with aging infrastructure systems and inefficient political processes around infrastructure. The website allows local citizens, as infrastructure users and owners, to submit infrastructure issues. It details how the website was developed with user forms and a database to catalog issues. Future enhancements may include user accounts, search features, and ways for users to interact.

1. InfraInput.org
BGSA Brown Bag Series
September 27, 2011
Parfait Gasana,
MS in Economics
pgasana2@illinois.edu

2. Public Infrastructure
• Def. - the wide array of assets and facilities that
enable the functioning of a society and economy
– All installations that house, transport, transmit, and distribute
people, goods, energy, resources, services, and information
• Public goods managed by government bodies
– Externality and spillover traits and non-exclusionary/non-rival in
consumption

3. Aging System
• Policy of new construction over maintenance
• Industry practice of segmented life cycle
(Design-Bid-Build method)
• Lack of performance measurement, inventory
data, and infrastructure management system

4. Why InfraInput?
• To start conversation on public works issues
• Local citizens as stakeholder (user and owner)
• Inefficient political process (i.e., lobbying,
earmarks)
• Needed coordination of agencies, policymakers,
builders/contractors, engineers, & citizens)

5. Website Development
• Literature reading on infrastructure
• Wikipedia articles (public capital, metropolitan
economy, public infrastructure sidebar & portal)
• Microsoft Access database (tables and forms)
• Online interface (html & php coding, mysql database)
– BlueHost webhost/server and domain account, FileZilla FTP
client, PhpAdmin, Apache

6. Website Features
• Simple website/minimalist design
– Function > Design (i.e., craigslist.com, google.com)
• Fifteen user forms and database output tables
• Includes other pages: About, Contact, Form
Directions, Form Guidelines

7. Site Concerns
• Complaint site against companies
• Security/Hacking
• Fraudulent entries
• Publicity/Word of mouth
– Champaign/Urbana, IL beta launch

8. Future Enhancements
• User accounts (sign-in/log-in)
• Pagination of output tables
• Excel, PDF, CSV, Print-out plug-ins
• Query page for searches by area, issue, etc.
• Comments section for interaction
• Ideas ???