The Department of Defense (DoD) relies on a large number of installations with extensive supporting infrastructure to prepare for and execute missions. In fact, the DoD is responsible for over 7,000 sites worldwide. Many installations, and their supporting infrastructure systems (e.g., energy, transportation, water resources, and medical services) are located in areas prone to natural hazards such as floods, coastal storm surge, droughts, extreme temperatures, fires, winds, and other events.

While there is high confidence within the scientific community about long-term climate trends at broad scale, there is uncertainty about the statistical properties of climate that now and will in the future impact installation planning and design. In fact, there is a gap between climate science and planning/design practice that needs to be bridged. To explore research and development needs and potential opportunities for improving the management in a nonstationary climate, SERDP and ESTCP convened a workshop that brought together (1) planning, engineering, and architectural communities; (2) relevant science practitioners; and (3) operations and real property managers.

The resultant workshop report explores information and research needs for planning resilient infrastructure and installations when statistical patterns of extreme events or average conditions are changing and historical data no longer provides a reliable guide to planning for the future.