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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Hazards and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 10828

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Guangyang Hou

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
Interests: infrastructure resilience; risk assessment; multiple hazards; transportation engineering; bridge engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Qiling Zou

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Interests: infrastructure resilience; transportation modeling; machine/deep learning

Dr. Min Li

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Interests: surrogate modeling; uncertainty quantification and propagation; stochastic simulation

Dr. Philip Scott Harvey

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Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
Interests: infrastructure resilience; seismic hazard mitigation; nonlinear analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Infrastructure systems, inclusive of power, transportation, water, and communications, play critical roles in modern society by providing essential products and services. However, they are facing urgent and emerging challenges from human-made and natural disasters, and aging issues. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the future. This further highlights the need for resilient infrastructure systems, which are expected to survive, adapt, and recover quickly from external disturbances. To this end, many research efforts have been and are being put into assessing and enhancing infrastructure resilience. These efforts include quantifying the post-disaster performance of infrastructure systems by considering various uncertainties; modeling interdependencies across infrastructure systems and among social, economic, and physical systems; and developing risk-informed decision-support frameworks. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to bring together the latest developments of these efforts and to promote the recent advances in the area of infrastructure resilience.

Potential themes for papers to be submitted to this Special Issue include but are not limited to the following:

Multi-hazard risk assessment;
Infrastructure resilience modeling and optimization;
Post-disaster recovery;
Risk-informed decision-support frameworks;
Dependencies and interdependencies between infrastructure systems;
Interaction between social, economic, and physical systems.

Dr. Guangyang Hou
Dr. Qiling Zou
Dr. Min Li
Dr. Philip Scott Harvey
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

infrastructure systems
resilience
disasters
climate change
interdependencies
risk assessment
modeling
optimization
recovery
decision support

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

33 pages, 11208 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Max–Min Fairness-Inspired Approach to Enhance the Performance of Multimodal Transportation Networks

by Osamah Y. Moshebah, Samuel Rodríguez-González and Andrés D. González

Sustainability 2024, 16(12), 4914; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16124914 - 7 Jun 2024

Viewed by 762

Abstract

Disruptions in multimodal transportation networks can lead to significant damage and loss, affecting not only the networks’ efficiency but also their sustainability. Given the size, dynamics, and complex nature of these networks, it is essential to understand and enhance their resilience against disruptions. This not only ensures their functionality and performance but also supports sustainable development by maintaining equitable service across various communities and economic sectors. Therefore, developing efficient techniques to increase the robustness and resilience of transportation networks is crucial for both operational success and sustainability. This research introduces a multicriteria mixed integer linear programming (MCMILP) model aimed at enhancing the resilience and performance of multimodal–multi-commodity transportation networks. By ensuring effective distribution of commodities, alongside a cost-efficient distribution strategy in the wake of disruptive events, our model contributes significantly to sustainable transportation practices. The proposed MCMILP model demonstrates that integrating equality considerations while seeking a cost-efficient distribution strategy significantly mitigates the impact of disruptions, thereby bolstering the resilience of multimodal transportation networks. To illustrate the capabilities of the proposed modeling approach, we present a case study based on the multimodal transportation network in Colombia. The results show a significant improvement in the number of nodes that satisfy their demand requirements with respect to other approaches based on reducing total unsatisfied demand and transportation costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Resilient Infrastructure)

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18 pages, 40096 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Does Flooding Influence Intra-Urban Mobility? The Case of Accra

by Lasse Moller-Jensen, Albert N. M. Allotey, Richard Y. Kofie and Gerald A. B. Yiran

Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 14997; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014997 - 18 Oct 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1331

Abstract

This study analyzes how daily mobility may be disrupted or constrained due to the flooding of road infrastructure. The empirical focus is Accra, Ghana, a rapidly growing African city with frequent flood events due to heavy rainfall. In the context of very scarce mobility data availability from official sources, this study proposes a novel way to utilize data from a large survey of mobility patterns conducted through in-person interviews in four peri-urban neighbourhoods. The survey targeted economically active adults and provided spatially explicit data on frequent destinations within the city when travelling in relation to income-generating activities. Using survey data on mobility patterns and detailed population data, we present a transport model with estimates of daily traffic volumes. At the city-wide scale, we propose a method for combining this transport model with maps of flood-prone locations derived from digital terrain models. At the local scale, we propose a method for analyzing the impact of flood events that restrict access to and from urban neighbourhoods. The presented results include maps of flood locations with a high impact on overall mobility, as well as maps that illustrate the spatial extent of this impact within the Accra region. At the local scale, the results illustrate the degree of potential isolation of smaller urban areas during flooding and identify the flood locations with the most significant impact on this issue. It is argued that the presented methods for identifying hotspots of flood-induced mobility disruptions may assist planners and policymakers in providing more resilient infrastructure and mitigate the adverse effects of flooding on urban transport. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Resilient Infrastructure)

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21 pages, 6167 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics of Fluctuating Wind Speed Spectra of Moving Vehicles under the Non-Stationary Wind Field

by Peng Hu, Fei Zhang, Yan Han and Naijie Yan

Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 12901; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712901 - 25 Aug 2023

Viewed by 890

Abstract

To promote energy saving, emission reduction, and sustainable development of high-speed trains, as well as achieve low-carbon operation of these trains. It is necessary to establish a fluctuating wind speed spectra model that can accurately describe the characteristics of the fluctuating wind speed field of the moving vehicle. This will help explore the effects of strong winds on the running resistance, energy consumption, safety, and comfort of trains. In this paper, based on Priestley’s evolutionary power spectral density (EPSD) theory, an efficient method was developed for generating the fluctuating wind speeds at the moving point under the non-stationary wind field. On such basis, the effects of different mean wind speeds, ground clearances, temporal modulation function parameters, and vehicle’s moving speeds on the time-varying correlation function ratio of fluctuating wind speed at fixed and moving points were analyzed. Subsequently, the relationship between the time-varying correlation functions of fluctuating wind speed at the fixed and moving points was established by analyzing the sensitivity of the above parameters, and a theoretical model of fluctuating wind speed spectra of the moving point under the non-stationary wind field was proposed. In addition, the relational expression of fluctuating wind speed spectra of the moving point under stationary and non-stationary wind fields was established, which was further validated using the fluctuating wind speed spectra model at the fixed points with different modulation function forms. The results demonstrated that the direct generation method can avoid n times of POD decomposition and

N_{s} \sum_{j = 1}^{n} N_{q}^{jj}

times of FFT calculation, improve the calculation speed, and save memory. The proposed fluctuating wind speed spectra model at the moving point under the non-stationary wind field is in good agreement with the corresponding target one, indicating the high accuracy of the proposed model. Meanwhile, it is also noted that the fluctuating wind speed spectra at the moving point under the non-stationary wind field can be obtained by modulating the spectra under the stationary wind field using temporal modulation function, which is the same as that of the fluctuating wind speed spectra at fixed points under the non-stationary wind field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Resilient Infrastructure)

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26 pages, 5705 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transportation Resilience Modeling and Bridge Reconstruction Planning Based on Time-Evolving Travel Demand during Post-Earthquake Recovery Period

by Yangyang Wu and Suren Chen

Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 12751; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712751 - 23 Aug 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1225

Abstract

After major earthquakes, communities may experience time-evolving population in terms of size and distribution, and varying travel demands, along with the displacement and recovery of residents caused by the damage and restoration of dwelling units. Community transportation can be significantly affected if the changes in population size and distribution are considerable. As a result, the post-earthquake infrastructure reconstruction process is essentially like urban replanning to meet the realistic traffic needs of the remaining and recovering residents and further maximize the sustainability of the community. To fill the gap in existing studies that considered the travel demand as fixed during the long-term recovery stage, it is important to investigate the effects of time-evolving travel demand on transportation resilience modeling and bridge reconstruction planning during the post-earthquake recovery period. A new methodology is proposed to analyze such impact by assessing the time-dependent resilience performance of transportation networks during the post-earthquake recovery stage. Traffic efficiency and safety are the two resilience performance indicators used to evaluate the transportation network. Post-earthquake infrastructure restoration planning is conducted using a heuristic algorithm based on the time-dependent resilience performance indicator. A demonstrative case study is carried out at Shelby County, Tennessee. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Resilient Infrastructure)

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17 pages, 7607 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Wind Field Characteristics of Ideal V-Shaped and U-Shaped Canyons

by Zelin Zhou, Xu Xin, Jiaxin Yu and Maoyi Liu

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10011; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310011 - 24 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1007

Abstract

As an important part of road transportation, bridge engineering plays a pivotal role in infrastructure construction. The wind field characteristics of the bridge site area have an essential influence on both the construction and operation period of the bridge, especially in mountainous canyon terrain. In this paper, a numerical simulation using computational fluid dynamics software was conducted to examine the intricate wind field characteristics in mountainous regions. The study focused on ideal V-shaped and U-shaped canyons, aiming to investigate the influence of various parameters. These parameters included three distinct heights, seven angles, and seven widths of the canyon. The findings indicate that in both ideal V-shaped and U-shaped canyons, the canyon acceleration effect weakens as the angles or widths of the canyon increase. The wind speed amplification effect gradually disappears when the V-shaped canyon angle exceeds 160° or when the U-shaped canyon has a width-to-height ratio of approximately 5:1. The wind speed amplification effect strengthens as the canyon height increases. The wind speed acceleration effect exhibits a linear relationship with the angle of the V-shaped canyon, while it demonstrates a logarithmic relationship with the width of the U-shaped canyon. Additionally, the wind speed amplification factor follows a logarithmic distribution along the canyon height. The wind field characteristics observed in this study offer valuable insights for future bridge designs in mountainous regions featuring V-shaped and U-shaped canyons. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Resilient Infrastructure)

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24 pages, 8675 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic Loss Assessment for Losses Due to Earthquake under an Integrated Building, Lifeline, and Transportation Nexus: A Spatial Computable General Equilibrium Approach for Shelby County, TN

by Yuchen Hu, Harvey Cutler and Yihua Mao

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8610; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118610 - 25 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1710

Abstract

Earthquakes have caused tremendous losses worldwide. Though unpredictable, comprehensive assessment of their impact on urban areas can facilitate effectiveness in mitigation strategies. This paper builds a spatial general equilibrium (SCGE) model for Shelby County, Tennessee, an area located in the most active seismic zone in the central and eastern U.S. Starting from the building, lifeline and transportation damages, this paper also develops means by which such damages can be integrated into the SCGE model for prompt effect estimation. Using novel approaches to represent substitution and shifting behaviors intra-regionally within the county, the model estimated a total of loss over $8 billion in domestic supply due to a hypothetical earthquake. Compared with the outcomes from the model without these behaviors, the magnitude of the losses is smaller in the model with these behaviors. This implies the resistance, resourcefulness and flexibility from economic resilience, as the level of physical damages do vary intra-regionally. Interestingly, although the percentage of losses in domestic supply varies almost linearly with the percentage loss in physical damage intra-regionally, the losses in employment are relatively evenly distributed. This also emphasizes the importance of the shifting and substitution behaviors which make the model profoundly spatial. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Resilient Infrastructure)

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25 pages, 4669 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Component Resilience Assessment Framework for a Supply Chain System

by Jie Zhao, Ji Yun Lee, Dane Camenzind, Michael Wolcott, Kristin Lewis and Olivia Gillham

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6197; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076197 - 4 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2874

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to develop a quantitative resilience assessment framework for a supply chain system exposed to multiple risk factors. Most existing studies on supply chain resilience have primarily focused on assessing the system’s ability to withstand and recover from disruptions caused by a single type of hazard. However, a supply chain system is exposed to multiple exogenous and endogenous events and conditions over a planning horizon, and a comprehensive assessment of resilience should take into account multiple risk factors. Moreover, contrary to the conventional resilience assessment methods focusing on the short duration during which the system is impacted by a disaster event, the proposed framework measures the resilience capacities of the system over a long-term horizon through multi-risk assessment and multi-component resilience assessment. Specifically, a new multi-component resilience index is proposed to measure (a) hazard-induced cumulative loss of functionality, (b) opportunity-induced cumulative gain of functionality, and (c) non-hazard-induced cumulative loss of functionality. The case study results indicate that all three types of risk factors contribute to the overall resilience index significantly and ignoring any one of them may result in inaccurate supply chain performance and resilience assessment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Resilient Infrastructure)

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