Enhancing community understanding on the cascading effects of critical infrastructure service failure via interactive learning

In urban areas, where critical infrastructure (CI) services such as transportation, energy, water, wastewater, public health, and communication are highly interdependent, a single failure can trigger cascading effects that disrupt entire networks. The urban poor, particularly those in peri-urban and informal settlements, are especially vulnerable to these cascading failures. Yet, limited attention is given to how CI services interact with each other and with poor communities, underscoring the need to enhance community understanding of cascading effects for effective disaster preparedness. Building this understanding can empower residents with knowledge about the triggers, characteristics, and impacts of cascading failures, enabling them to participate actively in disaster risk reduction.
This research examined cascading effects of CI failure in Villatina, a low-income, hazard-prone community in Medellín, Colombia. It aimed to develop and test an interactive learning approach to help residents understand cascading effects and identify strategies to address them. The study had three objectives. First, it assessed and compared cascading CI failures in formal and informal settlements of Villatina during torrential floods and landslides. Using systems thinking, interviews, and focus groups, it found that informal areas were more prone to cascading effects due to weak infrastructure, limited institutional support, socio-economic constraints, and low risk awareness. Formal settlements, while affected, benefited from stronger governance, better infrastructure, and clearer regulations. These differences highlighted the roles of geography, regulation, demographics, and governance in shaping resilience.
Secondly, the study explored interactive learning tools to improve comprehension. A participatory Interactive Learning Process (ILP) was designed and tested with students and researchers at the University of Twente using flow diagrams, maps, and picture cards. Picture cards proved most effective for engagement, simplifying complexity, and improving knowledge retention, demonstrating the value of visualisation in communicating systemic risks. Finally, the study applied and evaluated the picture card-based ILP in Villatina. Workshops revealed improved understanding of cascading effects and encouraged residents to propose risk reduction measures. The ILP successfully fostered collaboration and reflection but faced challenges in scaling due to socio-economic barriers, limited resources, and cultural norms. The study concludes that while ILP is not a standalone solution, it is a valuable tool for raising awareness, empowering communities, and supporting multi-actor collaboration to strengthen urban resilience.