User:Jbv73/sandbox
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The word Infra- means below and many of these constructions are underground, for example, tunnels, water and gas systems, and railways.[1] Infrastructure is behind the scenes, which is why people don’t necessarily think about it. It goes over the population’s heads, it works as a background, unnoticed, and “below the radar."[1] There are two general types of ways to view infrastructure, hard or soft. Hard infrastructure refers to the physical networks necessary for the functioning of a modern industry.[2] This includes roads, bridges, railways, etc. Soft infrastructure refers to all the institutions that maintain the economic, health, social, and cultural standards of a country.[2] This includes educational programs, parks and recreational facilities, law enforcement agencies, and emergency services.
Politician’s use the word infrastructure to describe how a nation can help transport goods (this includes electricity, water supply, energy, and technology) from place to place in an orderly fashion. This can happen through the work of roadways, railways, bridges, pipelines, etc.[1] Former president Barack Obama said in a memorandum that, “To maintain our nations competitive edge, we must ensure that the United States has fast, reliable ways to move people, goods, energy, and information. Investing in the nation’s infrastructure brings both immediate and long-term economic benefits— benefits that can accrue not only where the infrastructure is located, but also the communities all across the country."[3] This shows the way infrastructure is viewed by the federal government.
Engineers use the word infrastructure when talking about a structure’s overall foundation and how to improve the works of them all around to help better the population. Engineers everywhere are fixing roads and maintaining highways and bridges, so that the public can remain safe while getting to places they need to go. However, it is not just about fixing the small potholes in the roads, but more so, it’s about innovation.[4] Engineers are always trying to find creative, new ways of making infrastructure smarter. “Innovation in infrastructure includes not only new technologies, but advanced design, pricing, and construction techniques,” says Robert Victor, a professional engineer and transportation group manager at HDR Engineering in Washington D.C.[4]