Prioritizing Climate-Resilient Road Infrastructure Strategies in Greater Honiara, Solomon Islands

Abstract

Climate change poses significant risks to road infrastructure. Despite growing research on climate vulnerability in SIDS, limited studies have prioritized road adaptation strategies. This study contributes by identifying priority strategies for climate-resilient road infrastructure in Greater Honiara. The research utilizes secondary data to examine the climate patterns and the state of the road network. It also involves collecting questionnaire data through purposive sampling of 40 respondents, including urban planners, engineers, experts, academics, and local government representatives. In addition, 10 participants were selected for follow-up semi-structured interviews based on their knowledge and experience. Descriptive analysis, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) were applied to prioritize climate-resilient road adaptation strategies. Extreme rainfall and flooding were identified as the most significant threats. AHP results indicate durability as the most important criterion, followed by suitability and affordability. MCA results ranked sustainable drainage systems as the highest-priority strategy across all zones in Greater Honiara. Therefore, the study helps address a research gap by identifying suitable climate adaptation strategies for different zones in Greater Honiara. The findings provide guidance for improving climate-resilient road infrastructure planning and management in the Solomon Islands.

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