Article: Assessing disaster risk associated with constructions over urban transport routes: a scoping review and practical considerations Journal: International Journal of Environment and Health (IJENVH) 2025 Vol.11 No.3 pp.211 - 233 Abstract: This paper examines challenges in assessing and controlling risks when constructing buildings above transport routes used for dangerous goods, using Sweden as the empirical context where such deckings are increasingly employed to enable dense urban development. The primary objective is to review and analyse the scientific literature on risk management in this domain and to complement this review with interviews with Swedish practitioners involved in decking projects. The interviews were conducted based on insights derived from the literature review, providing an understanding of both the academic knowledge base and current practice. Although existing research addresses tunnels and the transportation of dangerous goods, a clear gap remains concerning deckings. While such constructions are occasionally mentioned, comprehensive studies focusing specifically on risk in deckings are largely absent. In particular, methodologies addressing catastrophic scenarios associated with overbuildings are lacking. As a result, risk management in decking projects often mirrors approaches developed for tunnels, without explicitly considering the distinct disaster scenarios that may arise in overbuilding contexts. This highlights the need for clearer practical guidance for risk assessment in such projects. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Assessing disaster risk associated with constructions over urban transport routes: a scoping review and practical considerations

Authors: Henrik Tehler; Johan Lundin

Addresses: Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety, Lund University, Lund, 221 00, Sweden ' Brandskyddslaget AB, 116 33 Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: This paper examines challenges in assessing and controlling risks when constructing buildings above transport routes used for dangerous goods, using Sweden as the empirical context where such deckings are increasingly employed to enable dense urban development. The primary objective is to review and analyse the scientific literature on risk management in this domain and to complement this review with interviews with Swedish practitioners involved in decking projects. The interviews were conducted based on insights derived from the literature review, providing an understanding of both the academic knowledge base and current practice. Although existing research addresses tunnels and the transportation of dangerous goods, a clear gap remains concerning deckings. While such constructions are occasionally mentioned, comprehensive studies focusing specifically on risk in deckings are largely absent. In particular, methodologies addressing catastrophic scenarios associated with overbuildings are lacking. As a result, risk management in decking projects often mirrors approaches developed for tunnels, without explicitly considering the distinct disaster scenarios that may arise in overbuilding contexts. This highlights the need for clearer practical guidance for risk assessment in such projects.

Keywords: decking; underpass; overbuild; dangerous goods; restrictions; ADR; according to dangerous goods regulations; risk analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2025.154806

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2025 Vol.11 No.3, pp.211 - 233

Received: 24 Oct 2025
Accepted: 20 Mar 2026
Published online: 14 Jul 2026 *

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Title: Assessing disaster risk associated with constructions over urban transport routes: a scoping review and practical considerations

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