Assessment of infrastructure resilience in multi-hazard regions: A case study of Khuzestan Province

Abstract

Natural hazards greatly affect the livelihood and social life of people in communities by disrupting the process of growth and development. Assessing vulnerability and resilience against natural hazards is fundamental in achieving sustainable urban and regional development goals. It is also important for making cities and regions more resilient. This study aims to measure the exposure to natural hazards and the infrastructural resilience in the counties of Khuzestan province (southwestern Iran). GIS data and multi-criteria decision-making techniques were used to measure the exposure to three hazards:flood, earthquake, and landslide. Furthermore, multi-criteria decision-making techniques with 25 indicators were used to rank the counties in terms of infrastructure resilience. Results of the hazard assessment showed that the northern and northeastern counties are mainly exposed to hazards such as earthquakes and landslides, while the central and southern counties have the highest exposure to flooding. Shushtar County ranks first and Abadan ranks last in terms of the integrated hazard index. The results of the resilience assessment also demonstrated major disparities across different counties. The resilience scores were particularly low in counties with higher rates of rural population. The results have implications for designing and implementing effective urban and regional development programs and plans. Indeed, a correct understanding of the current state of hazards and infrastructures plays a vital role in specifying and applying the necessary reforms in risk management programs. Besides, spatial and multidimensional analysis of exposure to hazards and infrastructural resilience is the first step in directing actions and financial resources to reduce vulnerability and improve resilience in high-risk counties.