Development and validation of the Community Data Center Impact Survey (CDIS): Measuring community perceptions of data center infrastructure

This study empirically validates the Community Data Center Impact Survey (CDIS), an instrument designed to measure resident perceptions of data center development and related infrastructure impacts within local communities. The instrument was initially developed around six theoretically derived constructs: perceived environmental risks, perceived infrastructure burden, quality-of-life impacts, perceived economic benefits, institutional trust, and community acceptance. Each construct included survey items designed to assess specific dimensions of resident perceptions regarding data center development. Using a quantitative instrument development and validation design, data were collected from 240 residents across the United States who lived in communities with operational, proposed, or planned data center development. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to examine the underlying structure of the instrument. Although the CDIS was originally organized around six theoretical constructs, the pilot data produced a more parsimonious three-factor empirical structure. The resulting factors were identified as environmental and infrastructure impacts, economic impacts, and general awareness & perceptions. These findings provide preliminary evidence that the CDIS is a reliable and interpretable instrument for measuring multidimensional public perceptions of data center development and its perceived community impacts.