DRI Technical Conference 2022: Adaptive Pathways for Disaster Resilience

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Introduction

The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) aims to bolster global thinking and action on climate and disaster resilient infrastructure (DRI) through knowledge creation, curation, and dissemination. In this direction, CDRI organised its first DRI Technical Conference on 12-13 October 2022 in New Delhi, India. The Conference was complemented with a Special Issue publication in the international journal Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure, launched on 17 November 2022 at COP 27 in Egypt. The two complimenting initiatives – the Conference and the Special issue – will create lasting influence for mainstreaming the DRI agenda.

Theme

The Conference and Special Issue publication had a common theme of ‘Adaptive Pathways for Disaster Resilience’. Adaptive pathways for infrastructure development offer perspectives for incremental changes in development by considering future, during disasters, and post-disaster requirements through systemic resilience assessments. Infrastructure development is typically undertaken for a 10 to 50-year horizon. However, current challenges of unprecedented disasters, impacts of climate change, and rapid evolutions of problems and their solutions necessitate frequent but incremental improvements in the infrastructure systems. This helps infrastructure systems face current disasters with better preparedness and become more resilient towards future hazards.

Systemic interconnections within and among infrastructure systems also induce new complexities and fragilities to infrastructure. Adaptive Pathways can provide a deeper understanding of infrastructure systems in diverse scenarios to inform future development through incremental but progressive planning and action over time.

In essence, the adaptive pathways approach can help stakeholders to deal with immediate challenges without losing direction and deliver long-term development dividends.

Despite the vast potential of adaptive pathways as a concept, actionable understanding of the concept requires collation of relevant knowledge and experiences. The first iteration of the DRI Technical Conference and Special Issue were focused on addressing these gaps by identifying three subthemes:

  • Dynamic disaster and climate change risk assessments for resilient infrastructure development;
  • Strengthening stakeholder participation and collaboration for adaptive pathways towards resilient infrastructure;
  • Implementation of adaptive pathways to foster resilience in complex and interdependent infrastructure systems across sectors.

Approach

CDRI actively works to bridge the gap between research, knowledge, and action. Therefore, the Conference was designed in two parts. First part featured interactive presentations of 25 high-quality research papers selected through an open call. Second part was a half-day Workshop to identify action agenda for Research, Advocacy, and Policy and Practice on DRI. All the sessions were curated for provocative discussions by eminent practitioners, researchers and thought leaders on DRI. 

Overall, the DRI Technical Conference 2022 brought together over 70 delegates with diverse background from 20 countries including the first cohort of CDRI Fellowship Programme (2021-22).

A closing ceremony of the Conference was held at New Delhi on 13 October 2022 with a wider audience and stakeholders. The closing ceremony also commemorated the International Day for Disaster Reduction. Most of the Conference sessions were also broadcasted live.

Click here to view a compilation of 28 abstracts

List of research papers presented at the Conference

  1. Flexible and adaptable strategies for developing sustainable and resilient infrastructure, Mauricio Sánchez-Silva & Nayled Acuña-Coll; Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. [Abstract 25]
  2. Systemic assessment of climate risks and adaptation options for transport networks in East Africa, Raghav Pant, Diana Jaramillo, and Jim W. Hall; University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom. [Abstract 123]
  3. Improving resilience outcomes for infrastructure: How to maximise the benefits from disaster and climate risk assessment, Liesl Keam & Becky-Jay Harrington, Partnerships for Infrastructure, Thailand. [Abstract 32]
  4. Resilience Performance Assessment (RPA): A framework and decision-making tool to evaluate and follow the resilience of infrastructures and territories, Nicolas Ziv, Didier Soto, Abla-Midi Edjossan Sossou, Sohouenou Philippe, Vignote Camille, and Karim Selouane; Reallience, France. [Abstract 33]
  5. Changing the valuation paradigm to promote adaptive and resilient infrastructure investment: Connecting insurance concepts and valuation, David Espinoza, Geosyntec Consultants, Washington DC, USA. [Abstract 54]
  6.  Flood disaster risk assessment for critical transportation infrastructure under climate change, aKapil Gupta and bVinay Nikam, aIIT Bombay, bEnviro-con Urban Hydro Environment Centre, India. [Abstract 49]
  7. “InfraRivChange” – a web-based application to monitor river migration at sites of critical bridge infrastructure in the Philippines, Richard J Boothroyda, Richard D Williamsa and Trevor B Hoeyb; aUniversity of Glasgow, bBrunel University London, United Kingdom. [Abstract 14]
  8. Mapping landslide susceptibility and critical infrastructures for spatial decision-making, Kshitij Dahala and Kaushal Gnyawalia,b;  aHimalayan Risk Research Institute, Nepal; bUniversity of British Columbia, Canada. [Abstract 29]
  9. Comprehending school disaster resilience: Deriving indicators for Risk-Informed School Evaluation, Vipul Nakuma, Muhammed Sulfikkar Ahameda, Ranit Chatterjeeab, Rajib Shawab, Saki Isetanib, Hanae Somab; aResilience Innovation Knowledge Academy, India; bKeio University, Japan. [Abstract 83]
  10. Empowering decision makers to take resilient action towards urban heat island mitigation by developing multi-dimensional climate model, Parisa Klossa & Mojtaba Samimib; aResilient Urban Planning and Development (RUPD) GbR, Germany; bSolarchvision technologies, Canada. [Abstract 7]
  11. Solar Disruptions in Space Infrastructure, Kavya Kamepalli, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany. [Abstract 115]
  12. Earthquake Response Control of Hospital Building using Unbonded Fiber-Reinforced Elastomeric Isolators; Sarranya Banerjee and Vasant A. Matsagar, IIT Delhi, India. [Abstract 92]
  13. Adaptive pathways for disaster-resilient infrastructure – Resilience assessment as a fundamental requirement; Mohammad Rafiq Joo and Ravi Sinha, IIT Bombay, India. [Abstract 19]
  14. An Integrated and Dynamic Approach to Assessing Risks Through Capabilities, Andrew Estrain and Deepa Srinivasan; Vision Planning and Consulting, USA. [Abstract 22]
  15. Higher education in India and Disaster Resilient Infrastructure: How do we reimagine curriculum, content and delivery for adaptive pathways? aCassidy Johnson & bAmir Bajaz, aUniversity College London, United Kingdom, bIndian Institute of Human Settlement Bangalore, India. [Abstract 46] no conference paper.
  16. Economic analysis framework for climate adaptation investment in land transportation sector with a Thailand case study, Khemrath Vithean, Pidpong Janta, Kampanat Thapmanee, Kampanart Silva, and Nuwong Chollacoop; National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand. [Abstract 27]
  17. Cost-Benefit Analysis with Flood Resilient Scenario Modelling (FReSMo) of Coastal Flood Impact on Built Infrastructure, Aishwarya Narendra, Bharath H. AithalbAithala, and Sutapa Dasb, IIT Kharagpur, bIndian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology Shibpur, India. [Abstract 45]
  18. Multi-hazard Risk Assessment of Coastal Critical Infrastructure in Eastern Economic Corridor of Thailand, Indrajit Pal, Anil Kumar, Joyashree Roy, Nonthakarn Benjachat, Kittinut Pimpakhun, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. [Abstract 105]
  19. Exploring the potential of urban open spaces as a city's flood mitigation infrastructure, Nivya PC, Shreya Karmakar and Sharon Maria Sajan; Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), India. [Abstract 119]
  20. Potential of Himalayan Wetlands in Mountain Disaster Risk Reduction under Climate Change, Santosh Subhash Palmatea & Saurav Kumarab; aTexas A&M University, bArizona State University, USA. [Abstract 16]