Certain man-made and natural events have a known potential to affect societies at a national, continental or even global scale. Such events can cause extreme harm well beyond those experienced from regional catastrophic events, especially when the effects will take longer than a month to recover. Three examples of events with the potential to cause critical infrastructure collapse include Solar Storms caused by Coronal Mass Ejections (CME), Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and Cyber Events (intentional and otherwise). The CIPR WG will pursue its goals by addressing these three classes of events, and other classes of events with similar potential, when identified.

The CIPR WG will promote and apply systems engineering principles with emphasis on policy, analysis and concepts useful to understand, protect and recover existing operational infrastructure, and to provide strategies, standards and concepts for more resilient approaches, through evaluation, development and implementation of specific recommendations that can be accomplished with primarily volunteered resources. It will promote and perform activities supporting the stated goals.

This scope is synergistic with other INCOSE WGs identified above (e.g. MBSE, System of Systems, Resilient Systems, Power & Energy, etc.). For example, the application of model-based approaches will be essential to analyze the problem and to communicate alternative conceptual solutions. Therefore, this WG will seek interest and participation from INCOSE members and the other INCOSE WGs. It will also reach out to engage international and governmental organizations, professional groups, critical infrastructure providers, and others stakeholders. MOUs, contracts and other kinds of agreements may be sought with external organizations as needed to further the effort. These agreements, if any, will be established according to INCOSE guidelines, processes and procedures.

The critical infrastructure domains addressed by the CIPR WG include the following sectors. Other domains may be addressed as the need is identified.

1. 1. Chemical
2. 2. Commercial Facilities
3. 3. Communications
4. 4. Critical Manufacturing
5. 5. Dams
6. 6. Defense Industrial Base
7. 7. Emergency Services
8. 8. Energy
9. 9. Financial Services
10. 10. Food and Agriculture
11. 11. Government Facilities
12. 12. Healthcare and Public Health
13. 13. Information Technology
14. 14. Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste
15. 15. Transportation Systems
16. Water and Wastewater