Improving infrastructure disaster resilience

The Council of Australian Governments endorsed a resilience based approach to combat the effects of disasters. Resilience is a broad based concept and is widely researched in disciplines such as social sciences and ecology. However its application in the field of structural engineering is relatively sparse. This paper highlights the major roles that structural engineers would need to play in improving disaster resilience which has been largely ignored in actual practice. It argues that a shift in design objectives and principles is necessary to enhance the capability to improve infrastructure resilience. The authors have presented the concept of resilience from a structural engineering perspective and the methods to quantify resilience in meaningful terms. General issues in improving the resilience of infrastructure system such as the awareness of the risks and the needs for integrating research, policy and practice and for integrating emergency service, planning and design are also highlighted. The authors have identified specific issues in improving resilience concerning structural design which includes the consideration of density of structures, disaster scenarios and quality assurance. Limitations and potential capabilities of building regulations to improve disaster resilience are also discussed. A concise summary of recommended actions for all stakeholders is provided.