# A Rural Lens on a Research Agenda for Intelligent Infrastructure

**Authors:** Ellen Zegura, Beki Grinter, Elizabeth Belding, Klara Nahrstedt  
**arXiv:** [1705.02004](https://arxiv.org/abs/1705.02004)  
**Date:** 2017-05-04  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/arxiv-id/1705.02004v1/

## Key points

- Emphasizes the importance of considering the needs and opportunities of rural communities in intelligent infrastructure development
- Rural areas play a vital role in sectors such as agriculture, fishing, forestry, manufacturing, and mining
- Approximately 20% of the US population resides in rural areas, with a higher proportion of aging adults and nearly 25% of Veterans
- Current discussions around intelligent infrastructure often exhibit bias towards cities, neglecting the unique challenges and possibilities present in rural communities
- Highlights distinct opportunities for innovation and inclusive research in intelligent infrastructure within rural areas
- Proposes coordinated actions supported by appropriate policies to ensure rural Americans are not left behind in the digital revolution
- Technological platforms and applications can address key issues in transportation, energy, agriculture, public safety, and health within rural communities
- Presents rural America as an exciting realm for novel innovation that can benefit both residents and contribute to the broader American economy
- By recognizing and addressing specific requirements and potentialities of rural communities, equitable progress across all regions of the United States can be fostered.

## Summary

This paper, titled "A Rural Lens on a Research Agenda for Intelligent Infrastructure," emphasizes the importance of considering the needs and opportunities of rural communities in the development of intelligent infrastructure. While the American population has become more urbanized, rural areas still play a vital role in sectors such as agriculture, fishing, forestry, manufacturing, and mining. Approximately 20% of the US population resides in rural areas, with a higher proportion of aging adults and nearly 25% of Veterans. The authors argue that current discussions around intelligent infrastructure often exhibit bias towards cities, neglecting the unique challenges and possibilities present in rural communities. In this brief, they highlight the distinct opportunities that exist for innovation and inclusive research in intelligent infrastructure within rural areas. To ensure that rural Americans are not left behind in the digital revolution, the authors propose a set of coordinated actions supported by appropriate policies. They believe that technological platforms and applications can address key issues in transportation, energy, agriculture, public safety, and health within rural communities. Overall, rather than viewing rural America solely as a set of needs to be addressed, this paper presents it as an exciting realm for novel innovation that can benefit not only those living there but also contribute to the broader American economy. By recognizing and addressing the specific requirements and potentialities of rural communities within intelligent infrastructure research and development efforts we can foster equitable progress across all regions of the United States.