NOTE: The scope of work for this project is accommodated by NCHRP 23-32: Transportation Asset Risk and Resilience.

BACKGROUND

The increasing frequency and severity of natural hazards attributed to climate change pose significant risks and vulnerabilities to transportation assets. These hazards include intense and frequent storms, water- and heat-related stressors, a rise in sea level, and other natural and human-generated risks. Additional risks and vulnerabilities include cybersecurity threats, connectivity issues, and dependencies on vulnerable assets, such as the electrical grid. These hazards accelerate the deterioration of transportation assets, affecting the performance of transportation systems and networks.

The recently adopted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) has emphasized the need to incorporate resiliency into all aspects of transportation management.  Specifically, the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) program provides formula and discretionary funds to improve surface transportation resilience to natural hazards, such as planning activities, resilience improvements, community resilience and evacuation routes, and at-risk coastal infrastructure. 

Despite advances in risk assessments and tools to support decision-making, state departments of transportation (DOTs) face challenges integrating these outcomes into asset management practices to prepare for and adapt to changing conditions. Research is needed to address these challenges by developing a comprehensive framework incorporating climate change and other risk and vulnerability assessments into asset management and thereby improving system-level resilience.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to develop an analytical decision support framework that integrates risk assessment with asset management and prioritization to improve system-level resilience. This framework shall incorporate information from climate change and other vulnerability and risk assessments into existing or developing asset management decision-making processes. The framework should apply to a wide range of risks that accelerate infrastructure deterioration in the near and long term. The framework should be accompanied by appropriate documentation to support implementation by practitioners.

STATUS: This project was cancelled.  Inquiries may be directed to the SPO or Waseem Dekelbab.