Assessing the Resilience of Critical Infrastructure Facilities toward a Holistic and Theoretical Approach: A Multi-Scenario Evidence and Case Study

Georges Irankunda, Wei Zhang (), Muhirwa Fernand and Jianrong Zhang
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Georges Irankunda: School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Wei Zhang: School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Muhirwa Fernand: Hubei Key Laboratory of Geotechnical and Structural Safety, School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Jianrong Zhang: School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: Given the increasing frequency of natural disasters, which result in substantial damage to critical infrastructures and disrupt the functioning of modern societies, numerous studies have been conducted in recent decades to propose sustainable preventive and enhancement measures to safeguard the environmental and societal development. This paper contributes to the existing literature by introducing a novel environmentally conscious infrastructural resilience assessment approach named the Novel Infrastructure Resilience Assessment Curve (NIRAC). Unlike past works which typically focused on a single infrastructure scenario, the NIRAC is conceptualized around multi-scenario resilience assets, integrating sustainable principles to enhance environmental resilience. Additionally, this paper presents a road infrastructure resilience assessment (RIRA) framework, developed from factors and dimensions pertinent to road infrastructure resilience and environmental sustainability. The RIRA framework is applied to a case study of a road damaged by heavy rains, emphasizing the need for sustainable recovery efforts which minimize environmental impact. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the RIRA framework in guiding road recovery efforts. The insights provided in this paper are valuable for disaster managers and policymakers, as they extend their resilience assessment knowledge with a focus on sustainable development and environmental protection. This expanded knowledge facilitates the implementation of appropriate interventions to prevent and mitigate the societal consequences of disasters more efficiently.

Keywords: critical infrastructure; infrastructural resilience; road infrastructure resilience; resilience assessment framework; case study; Burundi; Agence Routière du Burundi (ARB) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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