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A resource allocation framework for predisaster resilience management of interdependent infrastructure networks

Jingran Sun (Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA)
Srijith Balakrishnan (Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA)
Zhanmin Zhang (Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA)

Built Environment Project and Asset Management

ISSN: 2044-124X

Article publication date: 28 December 2020

Issue publication date: 27 April 2021

286

Abstract

Purpose

Resource allocation is essential to infrastructure management. The purpose of this study is to develop a methodological framework for resource allocation that takes interdependencies among infrastructure systems into consideration to minimize the overall impact of infrastructure network disruptions due to extreme events.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking advantage of agent-based modeling techniques, the proposed methodology estimates the interdependent effects of a given infrastructure failure which are then used to optimize resource allocation such that the network-level resilience is maximized.

Findings

The findings of the study show that allocating resources with the proposed methodology, where optimal infrastructure reinforcement interventions are implemented, can improve the resilience of infrastructure networks with respect to both direct and interdependent risks of extreme events. These findings are also verified by the results of two case studies.

Practical implications

As the two case studies have shown, the proposed methodological framework can be applied to the resource allocation process in asset management practices.

Social implications

The proposed methodology improves the resilience of the infrastructure network, which can alleviate the social and economic impact of extreme events on communities.

Originality/value

Capitalizing on the combination of agent-based modeling and simulation-based optimization techniques, this study fulfills a critical gap in infrastructure asset management by incorporating infrastructure interdependence and resilience concepts into the resource allocation process.

Keywords

Citation

Sun, J., Balakrishnan, S. and Zhang, Z. (2021), "A resource allocation framework for predisaster resilience management of interdependent infrastructure networks", Built Environment Project and Asset Management, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 284-303. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-06-2020-0109

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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