Advancing built environment resilience: a proposed indicator framework derived from resilience qualities

Climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme events are placing unprecedented pressure on built environment systems (BESs), revealing determined gaps in how resilience is conceptualized and implemented in practice. Although resilience has become a pivotal objective in planning and infrastructure development, existing approaches often lack a consistent structure that relates conceptual capacities with measurable indicators and actionable priorities. This study addresses this challenge by proposing a systematic framework that integrates clearly defined resilience qualities (RQs) into the assessment and improvement of BESs. The proposed framework organizes eight RQs, reflectivity ( Rf ), robustness ( Rb ), redundancy ( Rd ), flexibility ( Fx ), resourcefulness ( Rs ), rapidity ( Rp ), inclusivity ( Ic ), and integration ( It ), into a hierarchical structure supported by consolidated resilience quality indicators (RQIs). These indicators were identified through a systematic literature review and refined through analytical screening to ensure relevance to built environment performance. To evaluate the RQIs’ relative importance and implementation status, a Delphi-based expert elicitation was conducted, followed by an importance–capacity gap analysis to identify priority areas for intervention and structured improvement pathways. The results highlight meaningful differences in how RQs are valued and implemented, revealing critical gaps between strategic intent and practical capacity. By providing a structured and expert-informed assessment framework, this study contributes a practical foundation for embedding resilience into planning, design, management, and policy processes within the built environment while supporting alignment with broader compliance and sustainability objectives.