Integrating Critical Infrastructure Networks into Flood Risk Management

Abstract

Critical infrastructure (CI) networks are essential for the survival and functionality of society and the economy. Disruptions to CI services and the cascading effects of these disruptions are not currently included in flood risk management (FRM). The work presented in this study integrates CI into every step of FRM, including flood risk analysis, risk mitigation and risk communication. A CI network modelling technique enables the flood consequences for CI to be quantified as part of the flood risk analysis. The CI consequences derived from this analysis include spatial overviews and the temporal succession of CI disruptions. The number of affected CI end-users and the duration of the disruption are arranged in a risk matrix and in a decision-making matrix. Thus, the total flood risk is extended with CI consequences. By integrating CI and CI network characteristics into the flood risk assessment and the mitigation steps, a wider range of measures for action can be considered. Additionally, the continuous participation of CI operators is introduced as beneficial for every step of the FRM. A case study in Accra, Ghana proves the benefits of CI integration for all FRM steps. During participatory CI stakeholder engagements for this study six CI sectors were identified for the assembly of the CI network. The backbone of the analysis is a multisectoral, layered CI network model with 433 point elements, 1216 connector elements and 486 polygon elements.

Critical infrastructure network modelling for flood risk analyses: Approach and proof of concept in Accra, Ghana

“…The technical approach to modelling CI networks presented here is required for flood risk management procedures, as proposed by Burzel et al (2014) and Schotten & Bachmann (2023). The challenge of this type of analysis is more organisational than technical, however.…”

“…The CI network module is integrated in the publicly available ProMaIDes software package which consists of range of features for a holistic flood risk analysis (Bachmann, 2012). Plugins for a user‐friendly model setup and results visualisation have been developed for QGIS, the open geographical information system (GIS) that is used to prepare the data input and output for the CI network module (Schotten & Bachmann, 2022).…”

Flood Risk Assessment for an Irrigation Project in Odissa, India

“…However, in regions heavily reliant on irrigation for agriculture, the vulnerability of irrigation infrastructure to flooding becomes a critical concern. Flooding can inflict severe damage to irrigation systems, leading to reduced agricultural productivity, economic losses, and food security challenges (2,3) . To address these multifaceted issues effectively, a systematic and integrated approach to flood risk assessment and mitigation is imperative (4,5) .…”

“…In a world grappling with climate change and its far-reaching consequences, the need for comprehensive flood risk assessment methodologies has taken on unprecedented significance. These methodologies, as exemplified in the integrated approach outlined in this article, not only offer precise flood risk assessments but also provide a solid foundation for strategic decision-making in the face of a changing climate (2,23) . The study area's lack of prior flood risk assessments underscores the pioneering nature of this research.…”