Developing Subnational-Scale Resilience Indicators for Targeted Infrastructure Policy- and Decision-Making

Abstract

The increasing frequency and severity of hazards like cyclones, heatwaves, floods, and others highlight the urgent need to integrate resilience into infrastructure asset management. Asset management should extend beyond addressing natural deterioration to enable communities to mitigate climate change impacts and rising disaster risks. In India, regional disparities in hazard distribution and infrastructure quality significantly affect resilience. While global initiatives map resilience at the national level, effective policy interventions require understanding these variations at a local level. This study develops subnational (-district level) indicators of infrastructure resilience, reflecting hazard exposure, critical infrastructure, social infrastructure, and community and state capacities. Clustering algorithms are then used to group regions based on these five dimensions, facilitating targeted resource allocation and planning of resilient infrastructure tailored to local needs.