Assessing Resilience in Urban Critical Infrastructures: Interdependencies and Considerations

Cities have experienced significant population growth and economic value in recent decades, resulting in the development of complex and interdependent infrastructures. These infrastructures are vital for supporting and facilitating urban life, but they face unprecedented challenges from climate change, political tensions, and increasing complexity. To address these challenges, resilience has become a crucial consideration in urban development plans. This chapter delves into the assessment of resilience for three critical infrastructures: transportation, water, and electricity. It emphasizes the need to understand the interdependencies between these infrastructures, as disruptions in one can have cascading effects on others, impacting overall urban resilience. The chapter includes two case studies to illustrate the differences between assessing individual infrastructures and evaluating a system of interrelated infrastructures. These case studies underscore the complexities involved in resilience assessments and highlight the importance of taking a holistic approach that considers interdependencies and interactions. By providing guidance on assessing the resilience of individual and interdependent infrastructures, the chapter aims to enhance understanding of urban resilience and support decision-making processes to improve the robustness and adaptability of critical urban systems. It underscores the integration of resilience into urban planning and development, contributing to the creation of more sustainable and resilient cities.