GSB 7.0 Standardlösung

Integrated Climate Impact Assessment & User Dialogue (Main Topic 104)

How can transport and its infrastructure be designed to become more climate resilient?

The picture shows the main topic structure of the topic area Climate Change Impacts & Adaptation Main topic structure of the topic area Climate Change Impacts & Adaptation in the ongoing research phase (from 2020 onwards)

Under the main topic Integrated Climate Impact Assessment & User Dialogue, the researchers explore which transport infrastructure elements need to become more robust (resilient) to climate change impacts. The findings serve as an important foundation for the subsequent implementation of targeted adaptation measures in the transport system, ultimately increasing the transport system’s overall resilience. For the purpose of a cross-modal view of roads, railways and waterways, the scientists investigate the effects of different climate influences and impacts:

Climate influencesClimate impacts
  • Heat
  • Sea level rise
  • Heavy precipitation
  • Storm
  • Drought
  • Embankment fires
  • Erosion
  • Extreme waves
  • Gravitational mass movements
  • Flooding
  • Low water
  • Storm tides
  • Windthrow
  • Flash floods
  • Water quality

To this end, they further integrate the insights gained in the stages of the proprietary “climate impact analysis” procedure: the transport infrastructure’s affectedness (exposure, Climate Change & Extremes) and vulnerability (sensitivity, Transport Infrastructure & Adaptation) as well as the impacts of climate change-induced disruptions on traffic flows (criticality, Traffic & Adaptation).

Enhancing the climate impact analysis

This main topic incorporates the aggregate results of the climate impact analysis. An integrative approach helps to analyse where, when and to what extent transport infrastructure and traffic flows may be affected or impaired by climate change impacts. In this context, the researchers consider potential climate change impacts at various scales from a single object to a network-wide level. With a view to an integrative assessment of climate change impacts, the experts identify parameters to be incorporated into the climate impact analyses: For example, increasing wind speeds cause more trees to fall, potentially impairing the operation of roads and railways (Climate Change & Extremes).

Electrified overhead wires make certain railway sections particularly vulnerable to windthrow (Transport Infrastructure & Adaptation). The degree of impact on traffic flows is determined based on week day traffic volumes, but also by reference to the availability of potential alternative routes (Transport & Adaptation). The researchers aim to develop approaches having the broadest possible applicability to the operability of each waterways, roads and railways, while at the same time allowing for more specific solutions if needed.

Transport and infrastructure resilience

In addition, this main topic deals with the identification, description and establishment of interfaces between the broad climate impact analysis and the topic of resilience, to include climate change issues into resilience management systems. This makes sure that findings from the topic area Climate Change Impacts & Adaptation are considered in developments that are promoted across the BMDV Network of Experts’ topic areas.

User Dialogues

Users of the research findings – whether they work in the political/planning sphere, at the operative level or in transport or logistic companies – have been involved into the activities. This includes sharing ideas on metrics. The insights gained are expected to facilitate the assessment and prioritisation of measures for transport infrastructure and transport itself to adapt to the consequences of climate change. In order to foster knowledge transfer between authorities and users, the researchers make data, methods, maps and further information products available. Likewise, similar contributions are made to support the DAS core service “Climate and Water” set up under the German Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change.

Coordination

Dr. Ingo Hache
Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute (BAW)
ingo.hache@baw.de

Dr. Lara Klippel
Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD)
lara.klippel@dwd.de

Participating institutions:

  • BASt
  • BAW
  • DZSF/EBA
  • BfG
  • DWD
  • BSH