Framework for Resilience Assessment as Decision Support for Traffic Infrastructure Operators

In the context of ageing transport infrastructure, it is crucial to allocate available funds for construction and maintenance in a way that minimizes the extent and duration of functionality loss. In simpler terms, the goal is to enhance the resilience. This contribution presents the outcomes of the REMAIN project (REsilient MotorwAy INfrastructure). Within REMAIN, a framework was developed to assess the resilience of Austria's entire motorway infrastructure, considering five distinct asset categories: bridges, tunnels, noise barriers, retaining walls, and roadways. Resilience was assessed in the face of 18 hazards originating from natural, technical, and human factors. The framework is designed to offer the motorway operator a set of performance indicators exclusively focused on resilience. It is intended to serve as an additional decision-making tool for prioritizing infrastructure maintenance, alongside existing indicators like condition-based ones. Particular emphasis was put on making the framework executable even in cases of limited data availability, with the flexibility to integrate additional data easily. The framework's ability to predict the resilience of an entire country's motorway infrastructure in the face of major hazards makes it unique in its comprehensive applicability. While the framework was initially developed for motorway networks, its fundamental concept is universal and can be easily adapted for use in other infrastructure networks, such as secondary road networks and railway systems.