Evaluating the Implementation of the “Build-Back-Better” Concept for Critical Infrastructure Systems: Lessons from Saint-Martin’s Island Following Hurricane Irma

Rita Der Sarkissian, Anas Dabaj, Youssef Diab and Marc Vuillet
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Rita Der Sarkissian: Lab’Urba, Université Gustave Eiffel, Ecole des Ingénieurs de la Ville de Paris, Université Paris-Est Creteil, 75019 Paris, France
Anas Dabaj: Lab’Urba, Université Gustave Eiffel, Ecole des Ingénieurs de la Ville de Paris, Université Paris-Est Creteil, 75019 Paris, France
Youssef Diab: Lab’Urba, Université Gustave Eiffel, Ecole des Ingénieurs de la Ville de Paris, Université Paris-Est Creteil, 75019 Paris, France
Marc Vuillet: Lab’Urba, Université Gustave Eiffel, Ecole des Ingénieurs de la Ville de Paris, Université Paris-Est Creteil, 75019 Paris, France

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-25

Abstract: A limited number of studies in the scientific literature discuss the “Build-Back-Better” (BBB) critical infrastructure (CI) concept. Investigations of its operational aspects and its efficient implementation are even rarer. The term “Better” in BBB is often confusing to practitioners and leads to unclear and non-uniform objectives for guiding accurate decision-making. In an attempt to fill these gaps, this study offers a conceptual analysis of BBB’s operational aspects by examining the term “Better”. In its methodological approach, this study evaluates the state of Saint-Martin’s CI before and after Hurricane Irma and, accordingly, reveals the indicators to assess during reconstruction projects. The proposed methods offer practitioners a guidance tool for planning efficient BBB CI projects or for evaluating ongoing programs through the established BBB evaluation grid. Key findings of the study offer insights and a new conceptual equation of the BBB CI by revealing the holistic and interdisciplinary connotations behind the term “Better” CI: “Build-Back-resilient”, “Build-Back-sustainable”, and “Build-Back-accessible to all and upgraded CI”. The proposed explanations can facilitate the efficient application of BBB for CI by operators, stakeholders, and practitioners and can help them to contextualize the term “Better” with respect to their area and its CI systems.

Keywords: “Build-Back-Better” concept; critical infrastructure networks; recovery; sustainability; resilience; disaster risk reduction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3133-:d:515893

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