Evaluating and Implementing a New Standardized Spatial Risk Index (SSRI) for Network Vulnerability in the US

Natural hazards can disrupt road networks, daily activities, and disaster response capacity. Identifying high-risk areas is crucial for effective preparedness and response planning. While the literature addresses road network performance risks, it lacks insight into the spatial patterns and their impact on network performance. Additionally, the social vulnerability component and its implications have not been fully explored. Therefore, this project proposes evaluating and implementing a new Standardized Risk Index (SSRI) metric developed by the team that combines the road network performance and the potential impact of multi-hazard risks, especially on vulnerable communities. Specifically, the SSRI assesses how sharp or distributed risks are, quantifies the magnitude of impact resulting from the network topology, and identifies the critical pieces of infrastructure to prioritize investments in adaptation and mitigation strategies. The SSRI depends on the road network's topology, the natural hazard expected losses from historical data, and the socioeconomic characteristics of the population. The project will implement the SSRI in jurisdictions in the U.S. with the top 20% most significant risk of eighteen natural hazards and their spatial distribution. The method and results can assist planners in identifying and prioritizing actions and determining whether an entire city requires full attention to improve its resilience or just some specific areas within the city. The project will also develop an interactive web portal to display the results.