Moving toward resilience and sustainability in the built environment

Abstract

Developing and managing infrastructure requires considering the system's physical performance and operational, financial, social, environmental, and managerial aspects. These aspects interact in a dynamic environment that evolves and changes continuously. Changes in demand, socio-economic pressures, and the increasing frequency and intensity of natural events – exacerbated by climate change – make resilience and sustainability essential for the built environment's current and future performance. Sustainable infrastructures add value to society and maintain social equity and justice through time. To achieve this, it is necessary to consider socio-economic as well as environmental aspects. On the other hand, resilience focuses on recovery in case of a damaging event, a critical property that minimizes functionality disruptions. This paper presents a conceptual discussion about the role of resilience and sustainability in relationship with infrastructure and the built environment's design and operation. It provides insight into risk-informed decision-making for evolving infrastructure systems, and change based on a systems-thinking approach. These concepts are central to the built environment's safe and responsible evolution and growth. In the end, the paper identifies challenges and proposes future research paths.