Assessment of impacts of high-rise buildings on the performance of critical infrastructures in developing countries

Maria L Peralta, Purdue University

Abstract

Critical infrastructures are becoming more complex and interconnected, increasing their vulnerability to different types of disruptors. Infrastructure systems in large cities in developing countries are experiencing the consequences of rapid urban growth, including the increasing number of high-rise buildings to provide space in areas where the areas for new developments are limited. In addition, deficient urban planning procedures to provide appropriate infrastructure capacities to satisfy the high demand of resources from the new buildings affect the performance of critical infrastructures. The problem is exacerbated due to insufficient investment for rehabilitation and repair and construction of new infrastructures, and existing infrastructures have no alternative but to continue operating at close to their design capacity. These factors combined with the presence of high-rise buildings can be considered non-physical disruptors of critical infrastructures. This research first demonstrates how the impacts of non-physical disruptors on the performance of critical infrastructures can be evaluated in physical terms and demonstrates this evaluation by investigating the impacts of high-rise buildings on the performance of the electric and transportation infrastructures in developing countries. Additionally, it explores interdependencies between the electric and transportation infrastructures. This research utilizes the user equilibrium approach to assess the effect of additional trips generated by high-rise buildings on the performance of the transportation infrastructure. A system dynamics model is used to evaluate the effects of additional electricity consumption from high-rise buildings, in the performance of the electric infrastructure. Then, the user equilibrium analysis and the system dynamics model are used to evaluate the impacts of disruptions on one infrastructure on the performance of the other. The study identified the variables that can exacerbate the severity of impacts of high-rise buildings on the performance of the transportation network, including initial capacity of roads, location of cluster of high-rise buildings, number of buildings, and configuration of the network (e.g., one-way roads). The additional electricity consumption from high-rise buildings was shown to have a significant impact on the ability of the electric infrastructure to satisfy demand. The additional consumption from high-rise buildings also has significant impacts on allocation of generation capacity and on costs to increase generation capacity.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Abraham, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Civil engineering

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