Sustainability of Bridges: Risk Mitigation for Natural Hazards

Abstract

Bridges serve as essential parts of transportation infrastructure, facilitating the movement of people and goods across rivers, valleys, and other obstacles. However, they are also susceptible to a wide range of natural hazards, including floods, earthquakes, and landslides, which can damage or even collapse these structures, leading to severe economic and human losses. A risk index has been developed to address this issue, which quantifies the likelihood and severity of natural hazards occurring in a specific location. The application of risk indices for natural hazards in bridge management involves a data collection process and mathematical modelling. The data collection process gathers information on bridges’ location, condition, and vulnerability, while mathematical modelling uses the data to assess the risk of natural hazards. Overall, risk indices provide a quantitative measure of the vulnerability of bridges to natural hazards and help to prioritize maintenance and repair activities. Mitigation measures are then evaluated and implemented based on the risk assessment results. By using this tool, the UBMS research group has developed an algorithm for risk assessment which will be essential in the decision-making process, specifically focused on enhancing Fund Optimization, Deterioration Modelling, and Risk Analysis. These developments effectively fulfill the primary objectives associated with addressing and mitigating hazards. This development also helps bridge managers understand the potential threats posed by natural hazards and allocate resources more efficiently to ensure the safety and longevity of critical transportation infrastructure.