Infrastructure Interdependencies Research Update

Dana Brechwald, Earthquake and Hazards SpecialistLifeline Committee MeetingJanuary 31, 2013

Objectives for Our Study• Goal

– Understand performance of infrastructure systems serving airports to better understand performance of airports and to make actionable recommendations to improve airport performance

• Objectives– Identify and qualify interdependencies and vulnerabilities– Identify “choke points,” redundancies and “islands”– Determine consequences of interdependencies on restoration and

recovery– Identify and prioritize key mitigation strategies– Facilitate conversation among key stakeholders– Make specific actionable recommendations

Scope of Our Study• Systems

– Power– Water and Wastewater– Communications– Transportation (land transportation only)– Jet Fuel– Supply Chain– Employees/People– Air Traffic Control

• Size– Region – high level– Airport-specific – more detail

Case Studies

• Don’t Wing It updated + new case studies

– 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake

– 1994 Northridge Earthquake

– 2001 Seattle Earthquake

– 2005 Hurricane Katrina

– 2010 Haiti Earthquake

– 2011 Christchurch Earthquake

– 2011 Japan

Qualitative Approaches

• Rely on empirical observation, expert interviews

• Typically use a damage scenario• Examine whole systems, not just nodes• Look at multi-sectoral societal impacts• Wide variety of outputs

Preliminary Hierarchy – High Level

Local and Regional Roads

Electricity and Gas

Water

Wastewater

Communications

Anticipated Products

Anticipated Products

Implementation Steps

• Check findings with stakeholders

• Craft recommendations

Confirm and Report

• Synthesize interview responses

• Write report

Data Synthesis and Analysis

• Develop Interview Questions and Tools

• Conduct Interviews

Data Gathering

• Select Earthquake Scenario

• Examine Case Studies

• Conduct GIS Mapping

Research and Background

Oakland Airport Focus Area• Exploring partnership with Adapting to Rising Tides

project (BCDC)• Looking at multiple vulnerabilities to airport and

surrounding infrastructure

Next Steps• Earthquake scenario selection and feedback – April 2013• Case studies write up – May 2013 (feedback July 2013)• Mapping – May 2013 (feedback July 2013)

Implementation Steps

• Check findings with stakeholders

• Craft recommendations

Confirm and Report

• Synthesize interview responses

• Write report

Data Synthesis and Analysis

• Develop Interview Questions and Tools

• Conduct Interviews

Data Gathering

• Select Earthquake Scenario

• Examine Case Studies

• Conduct GIS Mapping

Research and Background

ExerciseBay Area Microchip Manufacturing, Inc. is a locally-owned high-tech research and manufacturing company located in a possible liquefaction area in the South Bay. In a repeat 1906 earthquake (M 7.9 on the San Andreas fault, with an epicenter approximately two miles off the coast to the west of San Francisco), the site will experience violent ground shaking and possibly liquefaction. The company is housed in a typical 1990’s office park.

Preliminary Hierarchy – High Level

Local and Regional Roads

Electricity and Gas

Water

Wastewater

Communications