Methodology for the assessment of environmental effects of failures at the objects of critical infrastructure

Abstract

Critical infrastructure includes objects of oil, gas and energy economy, but their environmental impacts are considered superficially, giving their high importance and life-sustaining functions in cities. By contrast, the resilience and risks imposed by natural disasters, cyber-attacks and other potential threats for the critical infrastructure are widely covered in research papers. Power generation facilities are usually located in close proximity to cities and thus create immense effects on its residents and overall balance in urban ecosystems. Additional environmental issues are raised by failures in the system, which should be considered and accounted as soon as possible to mitigate possible consequences and embed environment restoration in general damage liquidation plan. This paper offers a specific approach to predicting and calculating environmental impacts of accidents at critical infrastructure facilities. A methodology for identifying, calculating and managing environmental aspects of accidents at critical energy infrastructure facilities has been developed on the authors' experience in energy industry. This methodology can be applied to the environmental management of facilities both in peacetime and in wartime. The methodology incorporates social and environmental consequences of accidents. A developed simulation model demonstrates effectiveness of this methodology. Similar approaches might exist at critical infrastructure companies, but not opened for general consideration, the paper aims to contribute to the development of the overall methodology, which could be applied to minimize negative impacts on the environment and the population at all critical infrastructure facilities.