Water vulnerability from a holistic perspective

A HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE

Water availability alone does not determine resilience.

A region may have limited natural water availability but strong infrastructure, effective governance and diversified supply. Another may have comparatively abundant resources but remain vulnerable because of system losses, environmental degradation, weak planning, or fragile infrastructure.

ÆGIR RESILIENCE therefore assesses water vulnerability as the result of interacting physical, environmental, infrastructural, and societal conditions

THE PROCESS

From context to action.

02

Integrate relevant information

Bring together available climatic, hydrological, environmental, infrastructural, and socio-economic information.

01

Define the area and decision context

Establish the geography, infrastructure, priorities, and questions that the assessment must address.

03

Assess vulnerability

Analyse the interacting sources of exposure, fragility, and adaptive capacity.

04

Interpret the results

Identify the principal drivers, dependencies, emerging patterns and areas requiring closer attention.

05

Translate insight into action

Develop recommendations, priorities, and an appropriate structure for continued surveillance or specialist support.

THE ANALYTICAL SYSTEM

Hydro Nexus Analytics (HNA)

Hydro Nexus Analytics, or HNA, is the analytical system underlying ÆGIR RESILIENCE's hydro-strategic assessments.

HNA is designed to integrate different categories of information into a structured vulnerability assessment. It supports the development of the Overall Vulnerability Index (OVI), the interpretation of its component dimensions, and the translation of results into strategic decision support.

The analytical scope is adapted to the geography, available information, and needs of the client.

THE FOUR COMPONENTS

The dimensions behind the Overall Vulnerability Index (OVI)

The OVI breaks water vulnerability into four core dimensions, making it possible to understand not only the level of risk, but the underlying factors behind it. This helps turn complex exposure into clearer priorities for resilience planning.

Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI)

Assesses climate and hydro-meteorological pressure, including temperature trends, droughts, rainfall variability, heat stress, and relevant extreme events.

Seismic Vulnerability Index (SVI)

Assesses the relationship between seismic exposure and the fragility of critical water infrastructure, including dams, pipelines, reservoirs and treatment facilities.

Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI)

Assesses ecosystem condition, land-use change, environmental degradation, wetlands, forests, soils, pollution, and the natural systems supporting the water cycle.

Socio-Economic Vulnerability Index (SEVI)

Assesses how water consumption, agriculture, industry, infrastructure efficiency, alternative sources, governance, and institutional capacity contribute to vulnerability or resilience.

THE OVERALL SCORE

A clear 1-1o vulnerability scale

The Overall Vulnerability Index (OVI) combines the four component dimensions into one comparable hydro-strategic score.

1-4

STRUCTURALLY UNDER CONTROL

The system demonstrates a comparatively strong capacity to absorb pressure and adapt, while still requiring maintenance of favourable conditions.

5-7

HEIGHTENED CONCERN

Significant vulnerabilities or potentially critical trends require continued monitoring, targeted mitigation, and more cautious planning.

8-10

HYDRO-STRATEGIC EMERGENCY

The combination of climatic, infrastructural, environmental, and socio-economic pressures places the system near or beyond critical thresholds.

ANALYSIS ON EVERY LEVEL

One framework adapted to different scales

ÆGIR RESILIENCE's assessment framework can be applied across different geographic scales, from national or regional water-risk overviews to targeted analysis of individual assets, districts or infrastructure systems. The level of detail is adapted to the decision at hand.

Strategic scale

Supports broader exposure mapping, comparison between areas and long-term resilience planning.

Such as: Regions, basins, municipalities and wider administrative areas.

Localised scale

Supports targeted vulnerability analysis, operational decisions and prioritisation of specific interventions.

Such as: Urban districts, infrastructure systems, facilities or defined geographic coordinates.