Climate resilience: objective outlook with applications to civil infrastructures

Abstract. A widely accepted definition of infrastructure resilience is the capability of those infrastructures to withstand to, and then recover quickly from, abnormal demands. Many of those abnormal demands are climate-related. Many of potential climate change demands, as might result from observed global warming have raised concerns of civil infrastructure stakeholders. Intensity and frequency of recent climate-related events, such as north Atlantic hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, etc., were attributed by many to global warming / climate change. Civil infrastructure resilience, as defined above, during and in the aftermath of those demands varied greatly. With the expected continued increased impact of climate change on civil infrastructure, a more robust resilience performance is needed from those infrastructure systems.

This presentation explores the interrelationships between climate change effects and infrastructure resilience. Such interrelationship is complex due to the complexities of both climate change and resilience. To simplify the task, we first illustrate the nature and components of both. We then survey how the components of both climate change and infrastructure resilience interact. We finally illustrate, via case studies, objective resilience, risk, and decision models: all aimed at  enhancing infrastructure resilience due to potential climate change demands.

Short bio

Dr. Ettouney has been in the field of consulting engineering for over 49 years. He received his D.Sc. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).He produced over 400+ publications, and 9 books. His experience covers several fields, including finite elements / boundary elements, multihazards considerations, risk management, resilience management (he coined the ‘resilience management’ expression in 2013), in depth analysis and design of civil infrastructures and mechanical systems subjected to hazards, including: earthquakes, vibration of solids and fluids (low, medium and high frequency ranges), structural health, blast, and progressive collapse.

He has numerous awards and honors including AEI fellow, ACEC Project of the year award, NIBS Honors award, NJ inventors Hall of Fame, Anchin Innovation Award, Life Time achievement (NY MET Section), and Distinguished ASCE member.His current activities include several civil infrastructure-related projects, including progressive collapse of steel bridges and bridge monitoring of lower limit states. He is currently writing three books: Objective Resilience Manual of Practice, Editor (ASCE Press), Progressive Collapse (CRC Press), and Climate Change (CRC Press).