Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Living Infrastructure Field Kit?
The Living Infrastructure Field Kit is a web-based suite of interactive software tools designed to support Los Angeles County communities in creating climate-resilient infrastructure projects. It integrates built, natural, and social systems, guided by five core principles.
What are the five principles of living infrastructure?
- Honor Place: Respond to unique needs local cultures and environments
- Grow Participation: Increase community involvement in shaping places
- Embody Justice: Address past and current inequities by promoting inclusion
- Foster Resilience: Design for adaptability and long-term care
- Regenerate Life: Strengthen ecological and social vitality
What features does the Field Kit offer?
The Field Kit includes:
- Learning: Educational modules and articles on living infrastructure concepts
- Layers: Data visualizations for project site analysis
- Observations: Tools for gathering community input
- Sketches: Co-design tools for project concepts
- Site Profiles: Detailed information and analysis of specific project locations
- Remedies: A library of over 40 multi-beneficial strategies
- Proposals: Resources for creating funding applications
Who can use the Field Kit?
The Field Kit is for people who want their places to thrive. It guides individuals and project teams at all experience levels, including communities, agencies, and schools, in designing projects and securing funds to benefit their places.
How does the Field Kit support funding applications?
It assists by providing project details, community engagement tools, benefit estimations, and cost projections aligned with technical assistance grant funding criteria.
Is there a cost to use the Field Kit?
The Living Infrastructure Field Kit is provided as a free tool to support community-led infrastructure projects.
How can I get started with the Field Kit?
Explore the educational primers, search for sites, use data layers to analyze your area, and utilize the site profiles and co-design tools. Contact the Field Kit team for more information or assistance.
Can I export Field Kit sketches and data layers into other tools?
- Project summaries can be shared via the Export function as PDF, DOCX, CSV, and JPEG files.
- Project-specific GIS data cannot currently be exported for use in other tools.
- Many of the Field Kit's data layers are drawn from open data sources, which are linked in the Guidebook.
- Some custom layers are available exclusively within the Field Kit.
Will the Field Kit be available outside of Los Angeles?
We are thrilled to release the Field Kit in Los Angeles County, where it has been co-developed with local partners and a deep understanding of place. As we learn from this initial release, we look forward to exploring the potential for scaling the Field Kit beyond Los Angeles.
Is the Field Kit open source?
The Field Kit has been developed in a spirit of collaboration and transparency. Its source code will be released under an open source license in the future. We are actively collaborating with our partners to determine the best approach for governance and licensing.
How can I report an issue with the Field Kit?
To report a technical issue with the Field Kit, use the form on our Connect page and select "Technical support" as the subject. Your inquiry will be directed to the appropriate team.