Resilience is the ability of the built environment and society to withstand and recover from extreme events.

For more information about resilience


Climate Resilience

In addition to flooding, climate change can also have a number of other impacts that require assessment, mitigation and adaption measures for the built environment. These can include higher wind speeds, extreme cold, overheating and more frequent extreme weather events.

Flood resilience

Climate change can have significant implications for the built environment, with increasing risk and impacts for buildings, energy, transport, ICT and infrastructure. Analysis from the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment indicates that the built environment will be increasingly affected by extreme weather events, and that incidence and severity of flooding will increase with higher temperatures and changing rainfall patterns.

The Governments National Flood Resilience Review also states ‘Record rainfall and river levels have led to widespread floods severely affecting cities and communities, bringing misery to the lives of thousands and seriously disrupting businesses and livelihoods…we need to recognise that there is a non-negligible chance that we will see further events of a similar, or maybe even greater, scale over the next decade.’

Key flood terminologies to be aware of are:

  • Flood Resistance: ‘Construction of a building or use of technologies in such a way as to prevent or minimise floodwater entering the building.’
  • Flood Resilience / Recoverability: ‘Measures that can be incorporated into the building fabric and/or fixtures and fittings that can be installed, to reduce the consequences of flood water after entering a building.’

Disaster Resilience

Tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, famine all take unprecedented toll not only on human life but on the built infrastructure that underpins day to day existence. Rebuilding with resilient reconstruction practices following a natural disaster will be a key focus area for the Centre.

Learn about our recent project in this area QSAND delivered with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Security and Cyber Resilience

In our increasingly digital world, the way we operate our buildings homes and infrastructure and keep it safe is dependent on high functioning resilient technology. The centre will explore a range of issues around making our technology robust, protecting data and ensuring building performance.

Societal Resilience

Increased urbanisation, a burgeoning global population, high density developments that breed social unrest coupled with adverse weather impacts like overheating. How can we ensure that our existing communities and new developments can alleviate the tensions and stresses that lead to social unrest? This is one of the key challenges that the Centre for Resilience aims to tackle.