National-Level Infrastructure Risk Evaluation Framework and Best Practices

Abstract

The national infrastructure is the most essential society component serving for civil activities, economic prosperity, and public safety every day. Its absence or failure will result in tremendous devastation to nation’s growth and competitiveness. Nevertheless we can’t manage and drive the infrastructure to a right direction unless the infrastructure conditions and risks are properly evaluated. And current researches mainly focus on single or multiple projects, seldom study the risk evaluation from the overall national level. This paper first constructs a national-level risk evaluation framework from four levels: ultimate outcome, immediate determinants, underlying determinants, basic determinants; then assesses the infrastructure condition based on ASCE quadrennial infrastructure report card case. Various methodologies, assessment objectives, evaluation breakdown structure, gauging criteria and data sources are discussed though the case. The result of this research can be used for investigating national infrastructure risks systematically, supporting the national infrastructure funding allocation, and assisting to policy decisions making.