Novel Indicators for identifying critical iNFRAstructure at RISK from natural hazards (INFRARISK)

Description:

The objective of the INFRARISK research project was to provide a tool for identification of vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure within transport networks (road and rail).  The tool was developed in three steps including (1) an overarching methodology for the risk assessment of the network; (2) the development of a stress test framework for the evaluation of the consequences of extreme natural hazard events on an infrastructure network; (3) the design of the strategic INFRARISK Decision Support Tool (IDST) to ensure that the INFRARISK stress tests and harmonized risk management methods are practically integrated and used under specific process workflows and modules.

Only a limited number of hazards are included: earthquakes, landslides (slope failure and mass movement) and flooding. The IDST tool has been fully developed for two case studies, in Northern Italy and Croatia; for both cases, the tool provides hazard curves and vulnerability functions for different events and infrastructure elements. For other cases, the user must provide the relevant data to make use of the tool.

Some cascading hazard events were also considered within the project. The first scenario involves the occurrence of an earthquake, triggering a landslide. The second scenario involves the occurrence of a flood, triggering a landslide. The third scenario involves the occurrence of a landslide, triggering a flood if a river was in the path of the landslide.

The IDST is aimed at infrastructure owners and managers to support robust development measures which ultimately mitigate multiple risks that are associated with natural hazards and minimize their socio-economic and environmental impacts. The IDST provides access to generated databases and scenario simulations results for the two case study regions (Italy & Croatia) in order to demonstrate how the methodology works. However, the user has the option to apply the methodology to any network of interest provided the necessary data is uploaded to the IDST.

Project information

Lead

Roughan & O'Donovan limited

Partners

ROUGHAN & O'DONOVAN LIMITED (Ireland)

EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZURICH (Switzerland)

DRAGADOS SA (Spain)

GAVIN AND DOHERTY GEOSOLUTIONS LTD (Ireland)

PROBABILISTIC SOLUTIONS CONSULT AND TRAINING (Nehterlands)

AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS (Spain)

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON (United Kingdom)

PRAK PETER LEONARD (Netherlands)

STIFTELSEN SINTEF (Norway)

RITCHEY CONSULTING AB (Sweden)

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON (United Kingdom)

Source of funding

European Commission FP7