A Method for Strengthening the Resilience of Transportation Networks in the Face of Climate Change

To help regions strengthen the resilience of their transportation networks in the face of climate change, Cerema and Carbone 4 are presenting an innovative analytical method for identifying current and future risks to transportation infrastructure and services, particularly road transportation.

Transportation infrastructure and services are central to the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan, as they are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change; their operation and management in the medium and long term are “climate-dependent.” However, the The smooth functioning of these networks is essential to the smooth functioning of the region and the economic system as a whole. It is therefore necessary to identify the risks they face and anticipate future climate changes in order to maintain the same high standards of service quality and safety. Carbone 4 supported theCerema is involved in several stages of the validation of a risk analysis methodroad networks in the face of the impacts of climate change. The method was tested and validated on the network of the Interdepartmental Directorate of Roads – Mediterranean (DIR Med). The study was overseen by a steering committee composed of Cerema, Carbone 4, and DIR Med, as well as various members of the General Directorate for Infrastructure, Transportation, and the Sea (DGITM) of the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition.

This type of analysis leads to vulnerability maps and risk levels that involve issues related to transportation infrastructure and services across the entire road network, for various weather events, with both a current perspective and a forward-looking perspective (incorporating future climate trends based on models and projections). These risk analyses related to changes in extreme weather events constitute a very useful approach for infrastructure managers to help them define their investment policy, with a view to optimizing spending. They must be taken into account as part of the overall considerations of transportation network operators, as well as adapting to new uses (the economy, demographic changes, tourism, etc.) or new forms of mobility (smart cities, autonomous vehicles, etc.), in order to achieve an integrated approach to heritage management that optimizes investments by balancing short- and long-term considerations. Innovative and one-of-a-kind, the method is currently being updated to be applied on an international scale and could serve as a benchmark in this area. It is thus one of several methodologies highlighted in the upcoming report by the World Road Association (PIARC) Technical Committee on Adaptation Strategies and Resilience, scheduled for release in 2019. This update also incorporates feedback from other studies conducted on various types of road networks. More information on the method and results is available here: Methodological Note

Keywords Resilience, Transportation, Road Networks, Adaptation, Climate Change, Risk, Vulnerability, Public Expenditures, Regional Development

Contacts

Carbon 4

Dorothée Coloby Phone: +33 (0)1 76 21 10 00 dorothee.coloby@carbone4.comAbout Carbone 4Founded by Alain Grandjean and Jean-Marc Jancovici, Carbone 4 is an independent consulting firm and a leader in climate strategy, energy transition, and climate change adaptation. Our team supports public and private sector stakeholders in the transition to a low-carbon economy that is resilient to climate change. www.carbone4.com

Cerema

fabien.palhol@cerema.fr marie.colin@cerema.frAbout Cerema Cerema (Center for Studies and Expertise on Risks, the Environment, Mobility, and Regional Planning) is a public institution under the joint supervision of the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition and the Ministry of Territorial Cohesion. Cerema’s mission is to provide enhanced scientific and technical support to all stakeholders (the State, local governments, economic and civil society actors, and scientific partners) in order to develop, implement, and evaluate public policies for territorial development and cohesion.