The increasing frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme weather events are creating the need for more thorough assessments of the vulnerability of these systems and more research on the climate-proofing of transport infrastructure and services. At a symposium jointly organized by TRB, U.S. DOT, and the European Commission in June 2016, the subjects were discussed in the context of three climatic phenomena: storm surges, excess precipitation, and droughts. The attendees examined what can be done to make transportation systems resilient.
Adapting Transportation to Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events:
a Trans-Atlantic Perspective
The increasing frequency, intensity and duration of extreme weather events are putting transportation systems under greater stress. This is creating the need for more thorough assessments of the vulnerability of these systems and more research on the climate-proofing of transportation infrastructure and services. Both subjects were discussed at a symposium jointly organised by TRB, US DoT and the European Commission in June 2016 in Brussels. 45 invited specialists in this field from Europe and North America spent two days discussing weather-related threats to transportation and adaptation options. They did this in the context of three climatic phenomena: rising sea level / storm surges, excess precipitation / river flooding and extreme heat / droughts. With the help of real-world and hypothetical case studies, they examined what can be done before, during and after such events to make transportation systems more resilient.
This session will summarise the key outputs from the symposium, drawing examples from the US and Europe and exploring the implications for future transportation research.
Convenors: Alan McKinnon, Kuehne Logistics University, Hamburg
Chair of Adaptation Symposium Planning Committee
Richard Wright
Vice Chair of Adaptation Symposium Planning Committee
Introduction to the US-EU Transport Symposium series and 2016 Symposium in Brussels
Robert Missen, European Commission
Neil Pedersen, TRB
Alasdair Cain, US Department for Transportation
Overview of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: Donald Wuebbles,
Harry E. Preble Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois
Adaptation and Resilience in the Transportation Sector
Climatic risks, adaptation and resilience in the transportation sector: an overview
Gerry Schwartz, formerly Jacobs / Sverdrup Civil Inc.
Preparing transportation infrastructure for rising sea level and storm surges
Jeffrey Western, Western Management and Consulting
Managing transportation disruptions during periods of excessive rainfall
Jennifer Jacobs, University of New Hampshire
Improving the resilience of transportation systems during periods of extreme heat
Mike Meyer, Georgia Institute of Technology
Alan O’Connor, Trinity College Dublin
Conclusions of the Brussels symposium discussion
Alan McKinnon and Dick Wright
Opportunities for Trans-Atlantic Research Collaboration on this Topic
Maria-Cristina Marolda, European Commission
Alasdair Cain, US Department for Transportation
Transition: from Adaptation to Mitigation: Steve Cliff, CARB and UC Davies
Chair of the Climate Mitigation Symposium Planning Committee
Title | Presentation Number |
---|---|
Conclusions of the symposium discussion
Alan McKinnon, Kühne Logistics University
Richard Wright, No Organization |
P17-21514 |
Improving the resilience of transportation systems during periods of extreme heat
Michael Meyer, Louis Berger Group, Inc.
Alan O’Connor, Trinity College, Dublin |
P17-21513 |
Managing transportation disruptions during periods of excessive rainfall
Jennifer Jacobs, University of New Hampshire
André Van Lammeren, Rijkswaterstaat |
P17-21512 |
Preparing transportation infrastructure for rising sea level and storm surges
Gordana Petkovic, Norwegian Public Roads Administration
Jeffrey Western, Western Management and Consulting, LLC |
P17-21511 |
Climatic Risks, Adaptation and Resilience in the Transportation Sector: an Overview
Lóránt Tavasszy, Technische Universiteit Delft
Henry Gerard Schwartz |
P17-21510 |
European Commission and US Department of Transportation Perspectives
Frank Smit, European Commission
Alasdair Cain, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) |
P17-22168 |
Notetaker
Delia Dimitriu, Manchester Metropolitan University
|
P17-22200 |
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