Infrastructure access and availability as determinants of community vulnerability: A spatial analysis of 733 districts in India

As natural disasters increase in frequency and severity, infrastructure planning must account for how existing deficits and disparities shape community vulnerability and recovery. While regional vulnerability and resilience frameworks consider infrastructure systems as core determinants, the interaction between infrastructure characteristics, such as access and availability, and their influence on community vulnerability remain underexplored, particularly in the Global South. To this end, we leverage open-source geospatial data to construct granular datasets for 733 districts in India and apply statistical methods to assess relationships between community and infrastructure-related characteristics. Specifically, we consider three dimensions of infrastructure at the district level: (a) regional critical infrastructure availability, (b) social infrastructure density, and (c) household-level essential utility access. Geographic distributions and distinct profiles of infrastructure characteristics, are identified by employing clustering algorithms on composite indicators, while spatial regression models evaluate the association between community vulnerability and infrastructure dimensions. Findings suggest that access to essential utilities is the strongest factor associated with reduced vulnerability, with a significant interaction between critical infrastructure availability and utility access, indicating potential synergistic effects. Regions with below-average infrastructure provisions are associated with higher community vulnerability and may therefore warrant greater resource investment to achieve equitable vulnerability reduction outcomes. This study provides empirical evidence of synergistic effects using district-level geospatial analysis, supporting coordinated infrastructure development at network and household levels to enhance community capabilities and resilience. • District-level analysis links infrastructure systems to community vulnerability. • Household utility access shows the strongest association with reduced vulnerability. • Synergistic effects exist between infrastructure access and availability. • Findings inform equitable and data-driven infrastructure strategies in India.