Measuring Asset Resilience
1. Introduction: From Location Risk to Asset Resilience
Understanding climate risk begins with location. Our Climate Risk and Resilience Index (RRI) provides the essential foundation for this analysis, leveraging climate models with real world adaptation and social resilience measures to offer the true risk exposure of any location on Earth.
However, exposure is only half the equation.
Two buildings situated in the same high-risk zone can have drastically different outcomes during a disaster. One might be an older structure with single-pane windows and a flammable wood roof, while the other is elevated above the floodplain with impact-resistant glazing and a fire-resistant envelope.
The Asset Resilience Panel is designed to bridge this final gap. It builds directly upon the location-based insights of the RRI, allowing users to move from understanding their exposure to risk to actively managing their vulnerability.
1.1 The Challenge: Fragmented Guidance
Currently, uncovering these asset-level differences is incredibly difficult. The industry landscape is cluttered with disparate checklists and highly technical guidelines that are often siloed by specific hazards:
FEMA P-804 & P-1019: Excellent for wind and flood retrofits, but dense and engineering-heavy.
REDi Rating System: The gold standard for seismic resilience, but focused exclusively on earthquakes.
FORTIFIED: A rigorous standard for storms and high winds, but less focused on heat or drought.
LEED & BREEAM: Primarily focused on sustainability and carbon, with resilience often treated as a secondary credit.
For an asset manager or property owner, assessing a portfolio against all these risks would require navigating dozens of disjointed manuals.
1.2 Our Solution: The Asset Resilience Checklist
Our software solves this fragmentation. We have synthesized over 100 disparate strategies from over 20 technical standards and design frameworks into a systemic, rigorous, yet simple-to-use framework.
By integrating specific physical attributes and adaptation strategies with our existing RRI data, the Asset Resilience Checklist calculates an Asset-level Risk Score which reflects the true, holistic reality of a physical asset—accounting for both where it is located and how well it is built.
2. The Scoring Methodology
Our proprietary scoring engine quantifies the risk reduction provided by physical adaptation measures. It is built on three core principles: Impact Weighting, Hazard Specificity, and Residual Risk Limits.
2.1 Impact Weighting
Not all strategies are created equal. Installing a backflow valve is helpful, but elevating a building above the flood plain is transformative. Our model assigns a "Resilience Weight" to each strategy based on its effectiveness:
High Impact (Weight 3): Foundational, structural, or critical safety measures. These provide the strongest defense against a specific hazard (e.g., Seismic Reinforcement for Earthquakes).
Medium Impact (Weight 2): System-level improvements that significantly reduce damage or improve recovery (e.g., High-Performance Building Envelopes).
Low Impact (Weight 1): Supportive measures that contribute to resilience or provide co-benefits (e.g., Permeable Surfaces for reducing local heat islands).
2.2 The "Residual Risk" Cap
We adhere to a philosophy of engineering honesty: Risk can never be eliminated entirely. Even the most resilient bunker faces some level of threat from a catastrophic event.
To reflect this, our model enforces a Maximum Reduction Cap of 70%. This means that no matter how many strategies a user implements, the calculated risk score will never drop to zero. This ensures the final output remains defensible and realistic.
2.3 The Calculation Algorithm & "N/A" Logic
The Adjusted Risk Score (R_adj) is calculated for each of the 9 hazards independently:
Where:
R_RRI: The original location-based risk score (from the RRI) (0-100).Coverage Ratio: The sum of weighted points earned by the user divided by the maximum possible points for that hazard.
Cap: The 70% limit on total reduction.
Handling "Not Applicable" (N/A): If a user selects "N/A" for a strategy (e.g., "Coastal Flooding Barriers" for an inland property), that strategy is removed entirely from the calculation. It does not count as a failure ("No"), nor does it penalize the score. The total "maximum possible points" (denominator) for that hazard is reduced by the weight of the N/A question, ensuring the final score accurately reflects only the relevant strategies.
2.4 Sample Calculation: Heat Stress Case Study
To illustrate how this works, consider a commercial office building located in a high-heat zone.
Original Heat Stress RRI: 70/100 (High Exposure)
The user completes the checklist for Heat-related strategies:
Strategy
Weight
User Answer
Points Earned
Logic
High-Performance Envelope
2
Yes
2
Good insulation keeps heat out.
Passive Cooling Design
2
Yes
2
Exterior shading reduces load.
Cool Surfaces (Roof/Pave)
2
Yes
2
Reflective roof reduces heat island.
Backup Power
2
Yes
2
Ensures AC runs during grid failure.
Energy Efficiency
1
Yes
1
Reduces internal heat generation.
Indoor Filtration
1
Yes
1
Maintains air quality.
Native Landscaping
1
Yes
1
Reduces water needs.
Permeable Surfaces
1
N/A
-
Excluded from calc (e.g., urban site).
Tree Canopy
2
No
0
Missed opportunity.
The Math:
Total Possible Points (Denominator): The sum of all weights is 14. However, "Permeable Surfaces" (Weight 1) was N/A.
Adjusted Denominator = 14 - 1 = 13.
User Points Earned (Numerator): 2+2+2+2+1+1+1 = 11.
Coverage Ratio: 11 / 13 = 0.846 (84.6% of applicable strategies implemented).
Reduction Factor: 0.846 × 0.70 (Cap) = 0.592 (59.2% reduction).
Final Score: 70 × (1 - 0.592) = 28.56.
Result: The Adjusted Risk Score drops from 70/100 (High Risk) to ~29/100 (Low/Manageable Risk). This quantitative shift demonstrates that while the location is hot, the asset itself is highly resilient.
3. Hazard Coverage
Our model specifically calibrates these strategies against 9 distinct natural hazards. A strategy is only counted if it is scientifically proven to mitigate that specific risk.
Hazard Category
Primary Adaptation Focus
Heat Stress
Envelope efficiency, passive cooling, cool roofs, green infrastructure, backup power.
Drought
Water conservation, xeriscaping, alternative water sources.
Hurricane Wind
Structural reinforcement, rated openings, roof tie-downs.
Inland Flooding
Elevation, floodproofing, stormwater retention, backflow valves.
Coastal Flooding
Elevation, physical barriers, wet floodproofing.
Wildfire
Non-combustible materials, defensible space, ember sealing.
Hail
Impact-resistant roofing, equipment guards, rated openings.
Landslide
Slope stabilization, drainage management.
Earthquake
Structural integrity, seismic bracing of non-structural elements.
4. Asset Resilience Checklist Questions
The following 30 strategies form the core of our assessment. They are grouped by technical system to streamline the user experience.
Category 1: Structural & Seismic Resilience
Is the building structure reinforced to withstand high wind loads?
[Applicable Hazards: Hurricane Wind]
Rationale: The structural frame utilizes a continuous load path (e.g., hurricane straps, roof-to-wall connections) to resist uplift and shear forces caused by hurricane-force winds.
Is the building structure reinforced to withstand seismic activity?
[Applicable Hazards: Earthquake, Landslide]
Rationale: The structural system includes specific seismic detailing such as shear walls, moment frames, cross-bracing, or base isolation to prevent collapse during earthquakes.
Are non-structural interior components braced and/or anchored?
[Applicable Hazards: Earthquake]
Rationale: Interior elements (e.g., tall shelving, suspended ceilings, lighting, mechanical piping) are braced to prevent falling, tipping, or swaying during seismic events.
Is rooftop equipment mechanically anchored to the roof structure?
[Applicable Hazards: Hurricane Wind, Earthquake]
Rationale: HVAC units, solar panels, and other rooftop equipment are bolted or mechanically fastened to the main structure to resist wind uplift and seismic lateral forces.
Is rooftop equipment protected by hail guards or screens?
[Applicable Hazards: Hail]
Rationale: Vulnerable equipment components (e.g., condenser fins, coils, solar surfaces) are protected by specialized heavy-duty mesh or guards to prevent damage from hail impact.
Category 2: Envelope & Openings
Does the building envelope utilize high-performance sealing and/or insulation?
[Applicable Hazards: Heat Stress, Wildfire, Hurricane Wind]
Rationale: The building shell is tightly sealed (continuous air barrier) and well-insulated. This minimizes thermal transfer (keeping heat/cold out) and prevents the infiltration of smoke or pollutants.
Are exterior openings rated for impact resistance and/or high wind pressure?
[Applicable Hazards: Hurricane Wind, Hail]
Rationale: Windows, doors, and skylights are rated to withstand windborne debris (impact-resistant glass) and/or high design wind pressures. Alternatively, certified storm shutters are installed.
Is the roof covering Class A fire-rated?
[Applicable Hazards: Wildfire]
Rationale: The roofing material is certified Class A (e.g., metal, concrete tile, clay, composition shingle) to provide the highest level of resistance to flame spread and ignition from embers.
Is the roofing system rated for high wind uplift and/or impact resistance?
[Applicable Hazards: Hurricane Wind, Hail]
Rationale: The roof system meets standards for wind uplift resistance (e.g., enhanced fastening patterns) and/or impact resistance (e.g., UL 2218 Class 4 for hail).
Category 3: Flood & Water Management
Are all occupied floors and critical function areas located above the flood level?
[Applicable Hazards: Inland Flooding, Coastal Flooding]
Rationale: The lowest floor used for habitation or critical business operations is physically elevated above the Design Flood Elevation (DFE).
Are critical utilities and mechanical systems elevated and/or floodproofed?
[Applicable Hazards: Inland Flooding, Coastal Flooding, Earthquake]
Rationale: Electrical panels, HVAC equipment, generators, and fuel pumps are located above flood levels or housed in watertight enclosures to prevent system failure.
Are sewer backflow prevention valves installed?
[Applicable Hazards: Inland Flooding, Coastal Flooding]
Rationale: One-way valves are installed on sanitary and storm sewer lines to prevent municipal sewage or floodwaters from backing up into the building.
Does the site use physical barriers (berms, walls) to divert water?
[Applicable Hazards: Inland Flooding, Coastal Flooding]
Rationale: Permanent features (earth berms, flood walls) or deployable barrier systems are available to physically block floodwaters from reaching the building perimeter.
Does the building utilize dry and/or wet floodproofing techniques?
[Applicable Hazards: Inland Flooding, Coastal Flooding]
Rationale: The structure uses 'dry' floodproofing (watertight sealing) to exclude water OR 'wet' floodproofing (flood vents) to allow water to flow through unoccupied lower levels to equalize pressure.
Category 4: Site & Landscape
Does the site utilize stormwater retention and/or infiltration features?
[Applicable Hazards: Inland Flooding, Drought, Landslide]
Rationale: The site includes features like rain gardens, bioswales, retention ponds, or blue roofs to capture and hold rainwater, reducing runoff and localized flooding.
Are impervious surfaces minimized in favor of permeable options?
[Applicable Hazards: Inland Flooding, Heat Stress, Landslide]
Rationale: Hardscape areas (parking, walkways) use permeable pavers or porous concrete to allow water drainage, reducing runoff and the urban heat island effect.
Are slopes stabilized using retaining walls and/or deep-rooted vegetation?
[Applicable Hazards: Landslide, Earthquake]
Rationale: Steep slopes are engineered with retaining structures or planted with deep-rooted native vegetation to lock soil in place and prevent landslides.
Does the site feature a maintained tree canopy or significant shading vegetation?
[Applicable Hazards: Heat Stress, Inland Flooding, Landslide]
Rationale: Strategic planting of trees is used to provide shade (cooling microclimates), absorb excess water, and stabilize soil structure.
Does the landscaping utilize drought-tolerant and/or native plant species?
[Applicable Hazards: Drought, Heat Stress, Landslide]
Rationale: Vegetation consists primarily of species adapted to the local climate (xeriscaping) that survive with minimal or no supplemental irrigation.
Category 5: Heat & Energy
Does the building utilize passive cooling design and/or exterior shading?
[Applicable Hazards: Heat Stress]
Rationale: The building incorporates exterior shading devices (louvers, overhangs), reflective blinds, or natural ventilation strategies to reduce internal heat gain.
Are high-albedo (reflective) materials used on roofs and/or pavements?
[Applicable Hazards: Heat Stress]
Rationale: Roofs and/or pavements are coated with reflective materials to bounce solar radiation back into the atmosphere, lowering surface and air temperatures.
Is the building designed for high energy efficiency and/or electrification?
[Applicable Hazards: Heat Stress]
Rationale: The building uses high-efficiency systems (LEDs, heat pumps) and/or has electrified systems to reduce load and enable renewable power integration.
Do ventilation systems include high-efficiency filtration (e.g., MERV 13+)?
[Applicable Hazards: Wildfire, Heat Stress]
Rationale: HVAC systems are equipped with fine particle filtration (MERV 13 or higher) to maintain indoor air quality during wildfire smoke events or high pollution days.
Category 6: Wildfire & Safety
Are exterior building materials non-combustible?
[Applicable Hazards: Wildfire]
Rationale: Siding, decking, and fencing are constructed from ignition-resistant materials (e.g., stucco, metal, concrete, fiber cement) rather than wood or vinyl.
Is defensible space maintained around the structure?
[Applicable Hazards: Wildfire]
Rationale: Combustible vegetation and materials are cleared within 5 feet of the building, and vegetation is thinned for 30-100 feet to slow fire spread.
Is the building sealed to prevent ember intrusion?
[Applicable Hazards: Wildfire]
Rationale: All vents are covered with non-combustible fine mesh (1/8 inch) screens, and gaps in eaves or siding are caulked/sealed to prevent embers from entering.
Category 7: Utilities & Redundancy
Are there multiple evacuation routes and/or emergency access points?
[Applicable Hazards: Wildfire, Inland Flooding, Earthquake]
Rationale: The site layout includes more than one entry/exit point to ensure egress if a primary route is blocked by flood, fire, or debris.
Are backup power systems in place?
[Applicable Hazards: Heat Stress, General Resilience]
Rationale: On-site generators or solar-plus-battery systems are installed to sustain critical life-safety functions and habitability (cooling/heating) during grid outages.
Is a secondary onsite supply of potable water available?
[Applicable Hazards: Drought, Earthquake]
Rationale: The site has emergency water storage (cisterns, tanks) or a backup well connection to ensure water availability if the municipal supply fails.
Does the asset use water conservation fixtures and/or water reuse systems?
[Applicable Hazards: Drought]
Rationale: The building has low-flow fixtures, smart leak detection, and/or systems to recycle greywater/blackwater for non-potable uses.
5. References & Standards
Our strategies are grounded in globally recognized engineering standards and best practices for climate resilience. The following documents serve as the primary technical basis for our questions and weighting logic:
Primary Framework
Urban Land Institute (ULI): Developing Resilience Toolkit: Protecting Buildings and Sites. (The foundational framework for our asset-level strategies).
ULI Thematic Reports
ULI: Scorched: Extreme Heat and Real Estate. (Source for cool roof, shading, and green infrastructure strategies).
ULI: Firebreak: Wildfire Resilience Strategies for Real Estate. (Source for defensible space and ember intrusion strategies).
ULI: Harvesting the Value of Water. (Source for stormwater management and reuse strategies).
Federal & National Guidelines (USA)
FEMA P-804: Wind Retrofit Guide for Residential Buildings. (Source for wind-rated openings and roof tie-down strategies).
FEMA P-1019: Emergency Power Systems for Critical Facilities. (Source for backup power and utility elevation strategies).
FEMA P-936: Floodproofing Non-Residential Buildings. (Source for dry/wet floodproofing standards).
FEMA E-74: Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage. (Source for seismic anchoring strategies).
EPA Heat Island Reduction Program: (Source for cool roof and permeable pavement strategies).
HUD: Community Resilience Toolkit.
Industry Standards
REDi™ Rating System: Resilience-based Earthquake Design Initiative. (Source for holistic seismic resilience and recovery objectives).
IBHS FORTIFIED Commercial™: (Source for severe storm, hail, and high-wind roofing standards).
NFPA 1144: Standard for Reducing Structure Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire. (Source for defensible space and non-combustible materials).
ASCE 24: Flood Resistant Design and Construction. (The referenced standard for elevation and flood loads).
Regional Guidelines & Other Frameworks
New York City Mayor’s Office of Resiliency: Climate Resiliency Design Guidelines.
City of Boston: Flood Resilience Design Guidelines.
Climate Ready DC: Resilient Design Guidelines.
2030 Palette: Strategies for Resilient Planning and Design.
LEED (v4.1) & SITES: Credits related to Rainwater Management, Heat Island Reduction, and Protect and Restore Habitat.
BREEAM: Adaptation to Climate Change credits.
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