The accompanying Exposure Assessment Report details the specific miles or units and percentage of assets — roads, bridges, culverts and tunnels — vulnerable to the threat of natural hazards and the degree to which they may be exposed. Analysis of the data indicates that of all HDOT’s assets across six islands, 58 percent of the network is exposed to potential climate stressors and lava flows, including 303 bridges, 48 culverts and 6 tunnels. The report includes recommendations to improve data, conduct follow-up analyses, strengthen partnerships, and establish asset-focused evaluation programs, among other technical recommendations.
To develop the reports, WSP performed extensive research on present and anticipated hazard conditions and existing infrastructure, compiling a georeferenced highway asset inventory using HDOT data and state-of-the-art information systems. This peer-reviewed research included interviewing and working with local and technical experts from HDOT, the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, the University at Albany, the United States Geological Survey, and the Federal Highway Administration. The report includes the most of up to date data and literature resources available for Hawai‘i and establishes a baseline that can be used as the foundation for a climate and disaster risk assessment.