An Integrated Resilience Assessment Framework for Riverine Bridges Based on Hydraulic Modeling and Multicriteria Analysis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Riverine bridges are critical infrastructure that are increasingly exposed to severe hydrological hazards. This study proposes and validates a synergistic methodology for the assessment of riverine bridge resilience, integrating the conceptual 4R framework (robustness, rapidity, resourcefulness, and redundancy) with field inspections, hydrological and hydraulic modeling, including scour evaluation, within a multicriteria analysis scheme. The methodology comprises: (i) a systematic review of literature and regulations to construct a 30-parameter matrix across five dimensions (technical, economic, social, organizational, and environmental); (ii) data acquisition through field inspections, detailed topography, and technical studies; and (iii) one-dimensional hydraulic modeling in HEC-RAS under extreme scenarios (return periods of 100 to 750 years and a critical 500 m3/s scenario representing a potential overflow of the Aguada Blanca reservoir). The Bridge Resilience Index (BRI) is computed through a weighted additive model and a sensitivity analysis. Application to the San Martín Bridge (Arequipa, Peru), a structure with more than 60 years of service and recurrent preventive closures during flood events, revealed critical conditions: minimum freeboard of 0.26 m, absence of hydraulic protections, and limited institutional capacity. The resulting BRI value (1.898) indicates a low resilience level. The proposed framework provides a useful tool for risk-informed decision-making, the prioritization of interventions, and the strengthening of resilience in critical infrastructure.
Source: Water
DOI: 10.3390/w18060746
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W7140089557