A resilience assessment framework for critical infrastructure networks' interdependencies.

Area of Science:

• Infrastructure Resilience
• Network Interdependencies
• Risk Management

Background:

• Critical infrastructures (CIs) are vital for societal functions and are increasingly interdependent.
• Interdependencies can lead to cascading failures, amplifying negative impacts and reducing resilience.
• A lack of resilience-informed strategies hinders effective management of CI failures from low-probability/high-impact hazards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an integrated resilience assessment framework for critical infrastructure networks.
• To identify and map vulnerabilities arising from interdependencies within CI networks.
• To support effective management strategies for interdependencies in CI.

Main Methods:

• The study approaches the critical infrastructure nexus from an interdependency management perspective.
• Development of an integrated resilience assessment framework.
• Mapping interdependency-induced vulnerabilities in CI networks.

Main Results:

• The developed framework effectively identifies and maps interdependency-induced vulnerabilities.
• Findings demonstrate a connection between resilience changes from interdependency failures and intervention costs.
• The framework supports the exploration of shared intervention strategies for CI networks.

Conclusions:

• The integrated resilience assessment framework enhances the management of interdependencies in critical infrastructure networks.
• This approach provides valuable insights for resilience-informed business planning and investment in CI.
• The study offers a means to explore cost-effective, shared intervention strategies to bolster CI resilience.