DRI Lexicon - Shared Understanding of Terms that Matter for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) has developed a Lexicon on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (DRI) to foster a shared conceptual understanding of infrastructure-related terms and phrases. It provides a set of globally applicable references to concepts and phrases that can provide a better understanding of the domain, act as a guide to research and understanding, and aid in infrastructure-related decision making of governments, academia and financial institutions, among others. The Lexicon has been developed through a co-creation approach. Over a period of 10 months, a panel of subject matter experts identified from the government, the private and non-profit sectors and academia representing different geographies and varied disciplines including engineering and architecture, spatial planning, finance, social sciences and knowledge management engaged with the CDRI Secretariat to develop the definitions of priority terms relevant for DRI. The group began by identifying key notions and concepts now in use for DRI. As an initial entry point, the group referred to the CDRI’s stated objectives, and listed terms that were potentially relevant and relatable to these objectives and to CDRI‘s priority programmes and action areas. Some other terms such as sustainable development that are relevant but did not require further interpretation/explanation for DRI have not been included in the DRI Lexicon for ease of reference by users. Further, the Lexicon has benefitted from the strategic guidance and inputs by the project’s Advisory Committee (consisting of representatives from member organizations of the Coalition) and feedback received during the Global Consultation (from professionals and practitioners across the world).