Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of hurricanes, the resulting flood events pose escalating threats to transportation infrastructure and community well-being. This dissertation addresses the intersection of flood resilience, network connectivity, and social equity by integrating principles from network analysis, equity planning, and disaster resilience. The research begins by examining the social dimensions of accessibility loss during hurricane-induced flooding. Spatial and demographic analysis reveals that Native American and Hispanic populations in the case study region experience the most significant reductions in access to essential service facilities, highlighting inequities in systems.

Investigating a region southern Louisiana road network demonstrates that, under a 50-year return period hurricane scenario, 70% or more of the population may lose access to hospitals, and complete connectivity loss is projected by 2065 even with existing coastal master plans. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests rank demographic groups in terms of accessibility loss, revealing the Native American population as the most disadvantaged, followed by Asian, Hispanic/Latino, African American, and white populations.

Using vulnerability assessment, the study identifies critical links within regional road networks whose failure would fragment connectivity. These links are evaluated for their structural vulnerability to flooding, and for their functional importance to socially vulnerable populations. A novel path-ranking methodology is proposed to guide decision-making, ensuring that improvements in connectivity during disasters are equitable.

An optimization framework is developed for the equitable allocation of limited flood resilience resources. Mitigation options selected through an equity-integrated ranking algorithm are shown to enhance both overall network resilience and equitable access. Smaller and more socially vulnerable populations, particularly Native American and Asian American groups, benefit from these interventions. Targeting the smallest minority groups can improve connectivity outcomes for other demographic groups as well. Two metrics are introduced to evaluate mitigation measures over time, allowing policymakers to prioritize interventions that maximize resilience while promoting equity.

Overall, this work provides actionable insights for policymakers, offering strategies to allocate resources to enhance network resilience while ensuring equitable outcomes. By embedding equity considerations at every stage of the analysis, the dissertation demonstrates that improvements in resilience can and should be achieved in a manner that is socially inclusive.

Date

12-4-2025

Committee Chair

Sabarethinam Kameshwar

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