Risk assessment and decision making in civil engineering

Authors

Michael H. Faber

Abstract

The motivation for and relevance of risk assessment as a means for decision support in civil engineering is outlined. The theoretical basis for decision making is summarized and it is shown how the prior, posterior and pre-posterior decision analysis from the Bayesian decision theory provides the theoretical framework for risk assessment. Typical generic decision problems from civil engineering applications are given and some central issues related to risk acceptance are discussed. By means of selected examples it is illustrated how risk assessments may be utilized for civil engineering decision making. Finally a critical appraisal is given with regard to societal risk management.

Published by/in

Conference Proceedings 'Reliability-Based Design and Optimisation; AMAS Workshop - RBO'02, eds. S. Jendo, K. Dolinski and M. Kleiber, Warsaw, Poland, September 23-25, 2002, pp. 35-56.