This paper explores the practical role of the interaction between critical lifeline systems that can impact their mutual performance as well as their ability to serve the community, especially in the aftermath of seismic events. In particular, the emergency and recovery planning of individual lifeline systems is discussed in relation to power and telecommunication system resilience as seen from different post-earthquake reconnaissance investigations and future evolution of these increasingly coupled systems. Seismic hardening of lifeline systems is improving either by means of enforcing standards, material advances, installation practice and quality control, but these efforts are concentrated on individual components of individual systems. Hence, a new focus is needed that includes interconnections between components and coupling across systems, while distinguishing functional and management layers for enhanced tractability. Advances in telecommunication technologies make lifeline systems rely more on automated system control and monitoring during normal and abnormal operation regimens. Therefore, communication systems are critical for uninterrupted service and coordinated restoration across modern lifeline systems after a major disaster - all essential to community resilience. An example of the new methods to assess the observability and potential management of coupled networks is thus presented, while also highlighting research and implementation tasks for resilience based on practical operational and post-disaster observations on interdependencies in the last decade.
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