Vulnerability assessment of water supply infrastructures through multiple indicator methodology

Water supply infrastructures are essential to ensure the well-being of communities and to support social and economic growth and must be protected from damage in the context of future threats related to the environmental consequences of climate change. Those consequences include natural disasters, i...

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Main Author: Iolanda Borzì
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IWA Publishing 2023-11-01
Series:Journal of Water and Climate Change
Subjects:
Online Access:http://jwcc.iwaponline.com/content/14/11/3967
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author Iolanda Borzì
author_facet Iolanda Borzì
author_sort Iolanda Borzì
collection DOAJ
description Water supply infrastructures are essential to ensure the well-being of communities and to support social and economic growth and must be protected from damage in the context of future threats related to the environmental consequences of climate change. Those consequences include natural disasters, i.e., landslides, which can cause destruction of water infrastructure, causing distress for water users, cascading effects to other critical infrastructures and environmental impacts. Vulnerability analyses represent a key point in international risk management programs for protecting critical infrastructure, especially in the context of climate change. In this paper, a methodology is proposed to evaluate crucial water supply infrastructure vulnerabilities based on multiple indicators. A learning-from-experience approach is applied to establish specific indicators for vulnerability assessment. Eight different indicators are identified, divided into four categories, regarding land characteristics, service inefficiencies for users due to infrastructure failure, pipeline route characteristics, and physical characteristics of the aqueduct pipe. Along with the indicators, a graphical representation is proposed using the Kiviat chart, producing a vulnerability chart that represents a useful tool to identify the main vulnerability factors in existing water supply infrastructure, in the management of interventions, in the planning and design processes of new infrastructure, and for comparing different design solutions. HIGHLIGHTS Vulnerability assessment of water infrastructures using a multiple indicator approach.; Climate change's side effects on aqueduct breakages due to landslides.; Water infrastructure management and planning.; Critical infrastructure vulnerability.; Vulnerability chart.;
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spelling doaj.art-a6078471fb9347cea468ca6ba41386892024-04-17T08:37:35ZengIWA PublishingJournal of Water and Climate Change2040-22442408-93542023-11-0114113967398410.2166/wcc.2023.148148Vulnerability assessment of water supply infrastructures through multiple indicator methodologyIolanda Borzì0 Department of Engineering, University of Messina, Contrada di Dio, S.Agata, Messina, Italy Water supply infrastructures are essential to ensure the well-being of communities and to support social and economic growth and must be protected from damage in the context of future threats related to the environmental consequences of climate change. Those consequences include natural disasters, i.e., landslides, which can cause destruction of water infrastructure, causing distress for water users, cascading effects to other critical infrastructures and environmental impacts. Vulnerability analyses represent a key point in international risk management programs for protecting critical infrastructure, especially in the context of climate change. In this paper, a methodology is proposed to evaluate crucial water supply infrastructure vulnerabilities based on multiple indicators. A learning-from-experience approach is applied to establish specific indicators for vulnerability assessment. Eight different indicators are identified, divided into four categories, regarding land characteristics, service inefficiencies for users due to infrastructure failure, pipeline route characteristics, and physical characteristics of the aqueduct pipe. Along with the indicators, a graphical representation is proposed using the Kiviat chart, producing a vulnerability chart that represents a useful tool to identify the main vulnerability factors in existing water supply infrastructure, in the management of interventions, in the planning and design processes of new infrastructure, and for comparing different design solutions. HIGHLIGHTS Vulnerability assessment of water infrastructures using a multiple indicator approach.; Climate change's side effects on aqueduct breakages due to landslides.; Water infrastructure management and planning.; Critical infrastructure vulnerability.; Vulnerability chart.;http://jwcc.iwaponline.com/content/14/11/3967aqueduct vulnerabilitycritical infrastructurelandslidesmultiple indicatorswater resourceswater supply infrastructure
spellingShingle Iolanda Borzì
Vulnerability assessment of water supply infrastructures through multiple indicator methodology
Journal of Water and Climate Change
aqueduct vulnerability
critical infrastructure
landslides
multiple indicators
water resources
water supply infrastructure
title Vulnerability assessment of water supply infrastructures through multiple indicator methodology
title_full Vulnerability assessment of water supply infrastructures through multiple indicator methodology
title_fullStr Vulnerability assessment of water supply infrastructures through multiple indicator methodology
title_full_unstemmed Vulnerability assessment of water supply infrastructures through multiple indicator methodology
title_short Vulnerability assessment of water supply infrastructures through multiple indicator methodology
title_sort vulnerability assessment of water supply infrastructures through multiple indicator methodology
topic aqueduct vulnerability
critical infrastructure
landslides
multiple indicators
water resources
water supply infrastructure
url http://jwcc.iwaponline.com/content/14/11/3967
work_keys_str_mv AT iolandaborzi vulnerabilityassessmentofwatersupplyinfrastructuresthroughmultipleindicatormethodology