From what I can tell the modules you unlock through the Warfare tech tree that aid Invasion only help with making the attack faster, but what if these different modules had drawbacks or bonuses attached to them. For example the HE Rounds that you unlock with one of the first shield modules:

What if using this specialized 'Mass Driver' (as I'll call it) technology made the recovery after an invasion with it carried FIDS drawbacks or making recovery time slower. Making a more realistic scenario from bombing a planet into submission.



Then there are the later on Troop Invasion modules which from what I understand make it so you are putting troops on the ground? Well what if there was a FIDS bonus to industry or invasion recovery because you are essentially putting man power on the ground, using troops both as overlords and engineers to reshape the world in your order. It also may include a few more indepth research projects into the Warfare tech tree and involves more planning for when invading foreign worlds.



If a player just wants to tear a swath of destruction through enemy territory to either distract them from a main assault, or simply make it harder for them to recover, or quickly be able to disrupt a player's bid for Expansion Victory they could use the HE Mass Drivers and go that way. Where as with troops you could be on a slow, deliberate campaign of dominance and want to fortify each solar system before moving on so you use the Troop Module instead giving easier invasion recovery as well as boosting the infrastructure.

why would an INVASION force boost the infrastructure

Why wouldn't it? Once the system is yours you have more troops on the ground to rebuild with, where as if you just bombed everything to death... there isn't anyone left to rebuild anyway.

In a way that makes sense after all historically there were plenty of examples of invaders who tended to use their military to rebuild infrastructure after they tore it down initially both as a propagandist move and a method of assimilation amongst other things.



Since the population could have simply been eradicated or severly de-populated, some invader cultures simply used their army and it's attendant baggage as the initial colonial population for their new national acquisition as a reward of service; "Keep what you kill."

e.g. Romans, Normans, Modern Military enterprises (though not in the colonial sense, Pre-Modern though did).



Maybe specific Factions in ES will tend towards this more and it will be reflected in their Ground Invasion components on their respective Tech Trees? It would definitely add more depth/strategy to the faction your playing.

It is a nice thought, and yes empires have from time to time been an improvement upon local infrastructure and living standards.