Information-Driven Socio-technical Approaches for Community Resilience
CME Department Seminar
February 27, 2026
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM America/Chicago
Presenter: Christin Salley, PhD, Virginia Tech
Location: ERF 1047 or Zoom
Meeting ID: 535 718 1241
Passcode: Lin@842cme
Abstract: As infrastructure systems operate within increasing complexities such as hazards, urbanization, and social inequities, building community resilience calls for socio-technical approaches that enhance how information is collected, integrated, and used to support decision-making. This seminar presents the three interconnected areas of my research that advance community resilience through socio-technical approaches for: (1) Public Safety, (2) Hazards and Risk Communication, and (3) Community Engagement.
In Public Safety, I examine human-centered AI and information systems in emergency operations, focusing on how advanced analytics can enhance workforce sustainability, operational reliability, and decision-making within critical response systems. In Hazards and Risk Communication, I investigate crisis communication systems, including how information flows between institutions and communities and how data integration frameworks can support cross-system risk analysis and emergency management efforts. In Community Engagement, I explore participatory and educational approaches that embed stakeholder knowledge into infrastructure planning, construction, and preparedness efforts to strengthen adaptive capacity.
Together, this work advances a systems-based approach to community resilience that integrates technical innovation, human-centered design, and data-driven decision-making to strengthen hazard mitigation and urban infrastructure systems.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Christin Salley’s research focuses on developing equitable infrastructure systems and services within urban environments to enhance community resilience, specifically in the context of disaster and crisis management. Her work explores applications of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (e.g., natural language processing) and centers on understanding societal systems and addressing ethical considerations, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations. Employing a transdisciplinary, socio-technical approach, she leverages mixed methods techniques for data analysis and problem-solving. Previously, she was a Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow in the Michigan Institute for Data & AI in Society at the University of Michigan. She received her Ph.D. in civil engineering from Georgia Tech, her M.S.E. in civil engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and her B.S. in fire protection engineering from the University of Maryland. Her overarching goal is to foster innovation, advance responsible research practices, and create a lasting positive impact on society.
Date posted
Feb 24, 2026
Date updated
Feb 24, 2026