%0 Journal Article
%T Applying Systems Thinking to Coastal Infrastructure Systems
%A C. Ariel Pinto
%A David A. Pezza
%J Public Works Management & Policy
%@ 1552-7549
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/1087724X18806523
%X Coastal communities have an uncertain future as municipalities grapple with an increase in the frequency of coastal flooding. This article offers a simple approach to make decisions based on systems thinking. The objective of this article is to explore how to represent the coast as a system, how to apply systems thinking to coastal infrastructure, and to offer a framework to employ an integrated systems approach. The framework aids a community to map its future in the face of the changing coastal waters and a way to assess if they are moving toward a solution. It also provides a disciplined way of structured thinking to judge a problem and determine whether a hard or soft systems approach is appropriate. This kind of thinking is necessary for a community to plan capital improvement investments that are compatible with an uncertain future brought about by climate change
%K systems thinking
%K coastal infrastructure
%K rising sea levels
%K decision methodology
%K risk management
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1087724X18806523