Soft infrastructure planning
Introduction
Infrastructure (etymology: Infra = below) is called that human achievement designed and directed by engineering, urban planning, etc. professionals, which serve as support for the development of other activities and their operation, necessary in the structural organization of cities and companies.[1][2].
Infrastructure consists of public and private physical structures such as roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, water supply, sanitation network, electrical networks, and telecommunications (including Internet connectivity and broadband access). In general, infrastructure has been defined as "the physical components of interrelated systems that provide essential commodities and services to enable, sustain or improve the living conditions of society" and maintain the surrounding environment.[3].
Especially in light of the massive social transformations needed to mitigate and adapt to climate change, contemporary infrastructure conversations frequently focus on sustainable development and green infrastructure. Recognizing this importance, the international community has created a policy focused on sustainable infrastructure through the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Sustainable Development Goal 9 "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure").
One way to describe the different types of infrastructure is to classify them into two distinct types: hard infrastructure and soft infrastructure. This includes educational programs, official statistics, parks and recreational facilities, law enforcement institutions, and emergency services.
Definition
Infrastructure can be defined as the physical and organizational structures, networks or systems necessary for the proper functioning of a society and its economy. The different components of a society's infrastructure can exist in either the public or private sector, depending on how they are owned, managed and regulated (shared with the government/private sector depending on ownership and management, as occurs in some cases). Infrastructure can be physical or social, with the two categories defined as follows:
While the benefits of physical infrastructure are clearly tangible, the benefits of social infrastructure are often intangible.[8].
Large infrastructure works often generate social and environmental impacts, putting the health and well-being of the affected communities at risk, which is why they require exhaustive environmental impact studies prior to their implementation.