Published works

The project aims to develop vulnerability models for critical road structures: bridges, culverts and floodways under natural hazards of flood, bushfire and earthquakes. In the second stage of the project, optimized maintenance and strengthening regimes required to enhance resilience of critical road structures will be identified and a decision making tool will be developed.

During the past year, the research focused on analysis of the case studies available from end user partners and development of the methodology for vulnerability modeling of bridges and floodways under natural hazards of flood, earthquake and bushfires. A field study was undertaken to examine the community impact due to failure of road structures during the 2011 and 2013 floods in the Lockyer Valley region in Queensland. Researchers spent one week conducting semi-structured interviews of the community and identified the major community impacts due to failure of road structures.

Four workshops and a number of informal meetings were held during the year with excellent participation of end users researchers. During the workshops, case study data were identified and the methodology for vulnerability modeling was refined. Future data needs were communicated to the end users.

Two new Ph.D candidates commenced work with the research team on APA scholarships and two more will commence in July 2015. Each of the four strands of the project has recruited a researcher to engage in the project.

Major outcomes during the past year can be summarized as development of the vulnerability modeling methodology for critical road structures exposed to extreme events and demonstration of the methodology using four case studies. This work has been published in three peer reviewed conference papers and submitted as four journal papers. One journal paper has been accepted for publication. In addition, work was presented as invited papers at three industry events.