The Equitable Resilience Builder (ERB) is an application that supports communities in resilience planning with a focus on equity. It engages users in a guided process to inclusively assess local hazards, equity, and the resilience of built, natural, and social environment systems. It is intended to be used by a core team that could include local government and community organizations. The ERB is organized into five sections: plan, engage, assess, strategize action, and move forward. Results can be used to collaboratively prioritize actions to build community resilience to disasters and climate change in an equitable way.
US EPA Equitable Resilience Builder Website: Equitable Resilience Builder
Use the above link to access the Equitable Resilience Builder tool download.
main
dev
erb: Contains all project files and source code
erb_supporting_docs: Contains supporting documents for the ERB code and tool.
- Code_Resources/ERB/JavaScript: Contains sandbox code for JavaScript elements of the ERB.
The most recently released version of the Equitable Resilience Builder will be available on the 'main' branch of the repository. Use the following command to clone the main branch.
git clone -b main https://github.com/USEPA/Equitable-Resilience-Builder-GUI.git
Software developers interested in contributing to the project are encouraged to create a fork of the project and submit a pull request using GitHub. Pull requests will be reviewed by the core development team.
The ERB was created using a human-centered design approach to make sure that the tool meets the needs of its target audience or user groups. The ERB team did discovery, ideation, prototyping, and usability testing research on the different components of the tool throughout its development. They are continuing to evaluate the tool as it is deployed. We encourage users of the code posted here to employ human-centered design or participatory design techniques as they modify the code to ensure that it meets the needs of the intended user groups.
ERB is released under the MIT license. See LICENSE.md for more details.
This product has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policy and approved for publication. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. Work by contractors to produce this product did not include establishing Agency policy. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the United States Government or the U.S. EPA. Execution of any software program, and modification to system configuration files must be made at the user's own risk. Neither the U.S. EPA nor the program author(s) can assume responsibility for program modification, content, output, interpretation, or usage. This program has been extensively tested and verified. However, as for all complex software, it may not be completely free of errors and may not be applicable for all cases. In no event will the U.S. EPA be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of the use of the program and/or associated documentation.
Equitable Resilience Builder User Guide
Use the above link to access the Equitable Resilience Builder User Guide.
For questions related to the ERB tool or GUI, please contact: [email protected]
For more information about the tool, see: https://www.epa.gov/emergency-response-research/equitable-resilience-builder
The ERB tool and user guide:
Maxwell, K., B. Kiessling, M. Shacklette, E. Eisenhauer, M. Fry, S. Julius, M. Matsler, L. Oliver, AND I. Reilly. (2023). Equitable Resilience Builder (ERB 1.0) User Guide. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-23/355.
Related research:
Fry, M., K. Maxwell, E. Eisenhauer, S. Julius, B. Kiessling, M. Matsler, M. Ollove, S. Romanoski (2023). Centering equity in the development of a community resilience planning resource. Climate Risk Management 40:100520.
Eisenhauer, E. and J. Finley. (2022). Equitable Resilience to Flooding: A resource for practitioners on understanding economic, health, and social vulnerabilities and inequities in response and recovery. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC, EPA/600/R-23/214.
Maxwell, K. (2018). A coupled human-natural systems framework of community resilience. Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research 8 (1-2): 110-130. EPA (2017). Evaluating Urban Resilience to Climate Change: A Multi-Sector Approach. Washington, D.C. EPA/600/R-16/365F.