Published: August 2008 | Category: Natural hazard risk management , Research programme , Research & reports | Audience: General
This project examined New Zealand engineering lifelines activity, its level of integration in road controlling authority management practices, and its relationship to the resilience of roading networks to natural hazards.
It examined and compared lifelines practice at three levels – international, New Zealand regions and individual road controlling authorities.
Relative risk exposures arising from natural hazards and their impacts on regions were assessed at a qualitative level, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive lifelines approach throughout much of the country.
The project found there were many gaps in practice and that it was difficult to align the effectiveness of expenditure with measures of increased resilience. These gaps present opportunities for improvement, which are described with recommended actions.
These include further development of asset management plans, establishing resilience measures, better use of technology for associating hazard events with infrastructural assets, more comprehensive risk management practice and a more proactive approach to funding risk-based investment.
Keywords: activity management, engineering lifelines, natural hazards, risk, New Zealand
