Resilience engineering: theory and practice in interdependent infrastructure systems

Adrian J. Hickford (), Simon P. Blainey, Alejandro Ortega Hortelano and Raghav Pant
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Adrian J. Hickford: University of Southampton
Simon P. Blainey: University of Southampton
Alejandro Ortega Hortelano: University of Southampton
Raghav Pant: University of Oxford

Environment Systems and Decisions, 2018, vol. 38, issue 3, 278-291

Abstract: Abstract The economy and well-being of modern societies relies on complex and interdependent infrastructure systems to enable delivery of utilities and movement of goods, people and services. This complexity has resulted in an increased potential for cascading failures, whereby small scale initial failures in one system can result in events of catastrophic proportions across the wider network. Resilience and the emerging concept of resilience engineering within infrastructure are among the main concerns of those managing such complex systems. However, the disparate nature of resilience engineering development in various academic and industrial regimes has resulted in a diversity of definitions and characterisations. These are discussed in this paper, as are the commonalities between sectors and between different engineering disciplines. The paper also highlights the various methodologies used as part of resilience engineering implementation and monitoring, current practices including existing approaches and metrics, and an insight into the opportunities and potential barriers associated with these methodologies and practices. This research was undertaken for the Resilience Shift initiative to shift the approach to resilience in practice for critical infrastructure sectors. The programme aims to help practitioners involved in critical infrastructure to make decisions differently, contributing to a safer and better world.

Keywords: Infrastructure; Resilience; Resilience engineering; Adaptive capacity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10669-018-9707-4

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