RF 8 Climate resilient roads now and in the future - What should we know
Friday, February 11 08:00 - 09:30 (Calgary)
Chair: Dr Stephanie Hänsel, Manager, Deutscher Wetterdienst, Germany
Roads are instrumental to the safe, efficient and reliable movements of people and goods. Disruptions on the road network may lead to adverse economic and social effects. At the same time, extreme weather events, some of which are increasing in intensity and frequency due to climate change, can result amongst others in road damages, road operational disruptions and pressure on supply chain capacity and efficiency serviced by road transport.
The UNECE Group of Experts on Assessment of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation for Inland Transport has been working on analysing future impacts of climate change on main transport assets (including on roads). The analysis looks into various climate variables which are used as proxies for understanding changes in the potential impacts of climate change. Regional maps have been produced showing the spatial distribution of the climate change projections, which are overlain by main transport networks.
The session will discuss the analysis carried out and currently further expanded by experts with a focus on the road network, taking as example the road networks in the UNECE region. Changes in impacts from heatwaves, permafrost thaw, flash floods or slush flows from extreme precipitation will be discussed. The session will also share experiences and knowledge available in various countries in assessing future climate impacts on transportation systems, with focus on roads, and understanding socio-economic implications of those impacts. The session will also aim at raising awareness of the urgency in carrying the analysis of future impacts from climate change on transport so that the transport sector is better prepared to adapt to future conditions and so continue deliver its functions.
The session is aiming at bringing together transport professionals engaged in the management of transport infrastructure and operations as well as transport policy development, experts dealing with climate change impact assessments, private sector practitioners, experts from international organisations as well as experts from academia to discuss the conditions for road resilience of today and tomorrow.
- Opening and welcome
- Introductory Presentation
- Presentations (Road assets and their criticality, sensitivity and exposure to climate change)
- Questions and Answers / Panel discussion: Road resilience to climate change of today and tomorrow
- Conclusion
Opening and welcome
• Dr Stephanie Hänsel, Manager, Deutscher Wetterdienst, Germany and Chair of the UNECE Group of Experts
Introductory Presentation
Climate
variability and change, observed changes and projected trends as well as use
of climate projections to inform adaptation planning with a focus on impacts
from heatwaves, permafrost thaw and extreme precipitation (Climate data to
inform adaptation)
• Dr Andrew Quinn, Reader in Atmospheric Science and Engineering at the
University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
Presentations (Road assets and their criticality, sensitivity and exposure to climate change)
The climate impact assessment for the federal trunk road network of Germany
• Mr. Marvin Stell, Federal Road Institute, Germany
Polish practice in carrying out sensitivity, vulnerability and risk analysis for the identification of hotspots on transport infrastructure due to climatic factors
• Mr. Piotr Czarnocki, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Poland
• Mr. Andrzej Maciejewski, Project Manager for the Trans-European network for motorways and Key Expert at the Polish National Road Authority
Challenges from Climate Change to Roads in Northern Canada
• Dr Lukas Arenson, Principal Geotechnical Engineer, BGC Engineering Inc
• Mr. Terry Brookes, Government of the Northwest Territories, Canada
Questions and Answers / Panel discussion: Road resilience to climate change of today and tomorrow
• Moderator:
- Ms. Maxine Bilodeau, Director, Climate Change Adaptation and Planning, Transport Canada
• Panellists:
- Dr. Curtis L. Walker, A.M.ASCE, Project Scientist I, Weather Systems and Assessment Program, Research Applications Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, United States of America
- Ms. Raquel Fernández Pérez – Strategic Roads Division, European Investment Bank
- Mr. Denis Bublik – Deputy Head of the Directorate of Pricing FAI ROSDORNII, Russian Federation
Conclusion
• Dr Stephanie Hänsel Manager, Deutscher Wetterdienst, Germany
Session Organiser: Lukasz Wyrowski, Secretary of the Working Party on Intermodal Transport and Logistics, UNECE (Switzerland)
PIARC Technical Key contact: Caroline Evans, Principal Policy Advisor, National Transport Commission, Chair – TC 1.4 (Australia)