Development of Intrinsic Seismic Vulnerability Index (ISVI) for assessing roadway system and its assets framework

Area of Science:

• Civil Engineering
• Earthquake Engineering
• Transportation Engineering

Background:

• Roadway systems are critical infrastructure, necessitating resilience against natural hazards like earthquakes.
• Existing seismic vulnerability models often overlook the interplay between physical asset damage, network functionality, and traffic disruption.
• A comprehensive approach is needed to integrate diverse factors for effective disaster risk management in transportation networks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an integrated methodology for evaluating the seismic vulnerability of road networks.
• To correlate physical asset damage (Intrinsic Seismic Vulnerability Index - ISVI) with changes in accessibility to critical services.
• To provide a decision-making tool for risk mitigation and enhanced emergency access.

Main Methods:

• Quantification of physical asset performance using the Intrinsic Seismic Vulnerability Index (ISVI) via Non-Linear Dynamic Analysis (NLDA).
• Assessment of road network accessibility rates using an Accessibility Index (AI) considering geographical factors.
• Integration of physical vulnerability and accessibility data to create transport performance maps.

Main Results:

• Embankment height and number of lanes were identified as the most influential parameters in physical vulnerability assessment.
• Soil type and pavement strength showed lesser impact, with soil type being more effective than pavement strength.
• The integrated approach demonstrated compatibility between physical vulnerability and accessibility, confirming reduced accessibility with increased vulnerability.

Conclusions:

• The proposed integrated methodology offers a more precise tool for seismic vulnerability assessment of road networks.
• The framework effectively correlates physical damage with reduced network accessibility, crucial for emergency planning.
• This approach supports infrastructure owners in mitigating risks and improving emergency response capabilities.