Multi-criteria Analysis for the Estimation of Resilience Indices in Geotechnical Systems: Application to Earth-Retaining Structures

Abstract

Earth-retaining structures are part of essential geotechnical systems for the long-term stability of road, railway, and urban road infrastructure, among other applications, which guarantee the sustainable and resilient development of societies. A contemporary approach to analyzing geotechnical systems involves assessing their resilience, encompassing technical, social, economic, and environmental aspects. This article shows a multi-criteria analysis to appraise a simplified resilience index for systems that feature earth-retaining structures. The multi-criteria analysis assigned weights to four essential resilience criteria, robustness, redundancy, resourcefulness, and recovery, by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The resilience index was calculated at two points during the system’s lifespan, with global stability failure as a disruptive event. The proposed resilience rating ranges from 0 (no resilience) to 1 (complete resilience). The proposed methodology was implemented in a case study on a primary road in Colombia. The findings could direct progress in the construction of geotechnical infrastructure that can withstand extreme events and climate change. In emerging economies, there is still a lack of detailed knowledge on gauging the durability of geotechnical systems. This approach could be utilized in the medium term to enhance risk and resource management policies concerning road maintenance in developing countries.