Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies for Sea Bridge Construction Projects under Environmental and Structural Challenges

Abstract

Constructing sea bridges poses multifaceted risks stemming from marine environmental forces (e.g., wind, waves, currents), corrosive saline exposure, and complex hydrodynamics, especially in deep-water and seismically active zones. This paper presents a comprehensive methodology for risk assessment and mitigation in sea bridge construction, structured around pre-2017 insights. Key approaches include system dynamics modeling to simulate evolving risk profiles, Monte Carlo simulations to quantify uncertainties such as scour and material degradation, and analytical hierarchy processes (AHP) for systematic hazard ranking. We propose an integrated framework combining risk identification—covering environmental loads, structural degradation, construction safety, and geotechnical uncertainties—with mitigation tactics: protective structural forms (e.g., fender systems, dolphins), design adaptations (e.g., resilient pier geometry), scheduling to avoid extreme events, and accelerated construction techniques. Findings show that simulation-based risk modeling enables cost-effective resilience planning, while appropriate mitigation significantly lowers vulnerability to environmental stressors. A phased workflow guides practitioners from hazard analysis through strategy implementation and periodic reassessment. Advantages include data-driven decision-making, dynamic risk management, and targeted resource allocation; challenges include data scarcity, model complexity, and environmental unpredictability. The study underscores the value of adopting robust, probabilistic tools and adaptive mitigation, serving as a pragmatic guide for managing risks in marine bridge construction.