2.2.5 Connecting Resilience with Asset Management

Overview

As transportation systems face increasing threats from extreme weather events, climate change, and other disruptions, integrating resilience into transportation asset management plans (TAMPs) is crucial for ensuring the continued performance and reliability of these vital networks. Transportation assets are vulnerable to disruptions that have become increasingly more common or more severe, such as those caused by extreme weather events, climate change, as well as disruptions from man-made hazards such as fires, industrial accidents or security- or cyber-threats-. To sustain the performance and reliability of transportation systems, it is essential to include resilience as a factor in transportation asset management practices.

In the context of transportation asset management, resilience refers to the ability of transportation assets to maintain their functionality and performance in the face of disruptions, as well as the ability of transportation systems to quickly recover from disruptions and restore service. Integrating resilience into a transportation asset management plan (TAMP) involves incorporating strategies to prepare for, withstand, and recover from disruptions caused by extreme weather events, climate change, and other hazards. This approach ensures that transportation assets remain functional and support community needs during and after disruptions.

Addressing resilience within a TAMP has the following six major components:

1. Develop Resilience Objectives and Targets: Transportation agencies should develop resilience goals and objectives. These objectives and targets should be aligned with the overall goals of the transportation system and should be measurable and achievable. These objectives should focus on minimizing disruptions, reducing recovery time, and enhancing the overall resilience of assets. By setting specific targets, an agency can effectively track progress and make informed decisions about resilience investments.
2. Identify Risk: A transportation agency needs to identify and assess the risks that its transportation assets face. This includes understanding the likelihood and severity of potential disruptions, as well as the potential consequences of those disruptions. Identifying potential hazards, such as floods, hurricanes, or earthquakes, and evaluating their likelihood, severity, and potential consequences for transportation assets are important.
3. Assess Risk: Calculating and assessing risk involves considering the probability of occurrence, the potential damage, and the associated costs. The formula for calculating risk can be generally described as:

Risk = Probability of Occurrence × Damage × Cost

• Probability of Occurrence—The probability of occurrence is a measure of how likely it is that a particular event will happen. It is usually expressed as a percentage or a decimal between 0 and 1. For example, if there is a 20% chance of a flood occurring in a given year, the probability of occurrence would be 0.2.
• Damage—The damage is the extent of the negative impact that an event would have if it were to occur. This could include physical damage to assets, financial losses, or harm to people or the environment. Damage is often expressed in monetary terms, but it can also be qualitative.
• Cost—The cost is the amount of money that would be required to mitigate or recover from the damage caused by an event. This could include the cost of repairs, insurance premiums, or emergency response measures.

Once you have determined the probability of occurrence, damage, and cost, you can multiply these three values together to calculate the overall risk. The resulting value represents the expected financial impact of the risk.

4. Identify and Implement Resilience Strategies: Transportation agencies should identify and implement a variety of resilience strategies to mitigate the impacts of disruptions. These strategies may include hardening assets, improving redundancy, and developing emergency response plans. Understanding the specific risks faced by your transportation network will guide the development of tailored resilience strategies.
5. Incorporate Resilience into a TAMP: The resilience strategies and considerations should be incorporated into all aspects of transportation asset management planning, including asset inventory, condition assessment, and prioritization of investments.
6. Monitor and Evaluate Resilience: Transportation agencies should monitor and evaluate their resilience efforts to ensure that they are effective in reducing the impacts of disruptions. This includes collecting data on asset performance, disruptions, and recovery efforts.

Resilience considerations should be integrated into all aspects of your TAMP, including asset inventory, condition assessment, and prioritization of investments. Consider the resilience implications of each decision and how it affects the overall resilience of your transportation system. For example, when prioritizing maintenance or replacement projects, consider the vulnerability of assets to disruptions and prioritize those that are critical for maintaining network connectivity or supporting emergency response efforts.