Adapting the CIERA framework to assess road infrastructure resilience to climate-related events

Abstract

Roads form part of the essential physical infrastructure but face numerous external threats throughout their lifespan ranging from physical, meteorological and even operational threats. With climate change, roads are becoming increasingly vulnerable to adverse events, with an urgent need for building resilience in this type of critical infrastructure. This study focused on the adaptation of the Critical Infrastructure Elements Resilience Assessment (CIERA) method for measuring the resilience of road infrastructure with respect to climate-related events. A qualitative approach was adopted to identify the parameters to be measured under the three main components of the CIERA framework, namely robustness, recoverability and adaptability. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with a purposive sample of 15 experts in the transportation field working in both the public and private sector. This yielded the various indicators of road infrastructure resilience for inclusion in the CIERA framework.

Contribution: The study identified 32 indicators to be assessed for road infrastructure resilience. The most cited ones for the robustness component include the implementation of protective security measures, adoption of new design standards and availability of alternative routes, whereas for the recoverability component, fund allocation, pre-approved response plans and agreements with third parties for help during disasters have been most highlighted by interviewees. Lastly, appropriate risk management practices, investment in technological innovation and provision of training are considered important aspects for the adaptability component. The framework can be applied in the road transportation sector to assess the level of resilience and guide decisions at strategic levels for investment.