U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Highway Administration 1

Adaptation to Global Climate Change Effects: FHWA Activities

AASHTO Subcommittee on DesignJuly 27, 2010

Columbia, South Carolina

Adaptation to Global Climate Change Effects: FHWA Activities

AASHTO Subcommittee on DesignJuly 27, 2010

Columbia, South Carolina

Michael CulpSenior Environmental Protection SpecialistFHWA Office of Environment, Planning & RE

Jon Obenberger, Ph.D., P.E.Preconstruction Team LeaderFHWA Infrastructure Office of Program Administration

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Adapting to climate change: The Potential for Costly Impacts

Adapting to climate change: The Potential for Costly Impacts

Houston, TX. Adapted from Virginia Burkett, USGS

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What is Adaptation?What is Adaptation?

• Actions to avoid, withstand, or take advantage of climate changes and impacts Adapting transportation assets to the new and

emerging effects of climate change Magnitude of change is difficult to assess Potential implications for where we locate and how we

build

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Climate Change EffectsClimate Change Effects

• Changes in sea levels due to sea level rise, subsidence

• Increased storm surge

• Changes in temperature

• Changes in precipitation

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Long term U.S. Climate Effect Projections

Long term U.S. Climate Effect Projections

• Heavy precipitation events will occur more often, and be more intense

• The northern US will experience increases in precipitation and humidity, while the south becomes drier

• Temperatures will continue to warm, by 4 to 11 F. Heat waves will occur more frequently

• Sea levels are expected to increase by 3 to 4 feet

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Potential impacts on transportation infrastructure

Potential impacts on transportation infrastructure

Potential impacts include:Permanent inundation of roads Temporary flooding of roadsWeakening of land, substructure supporting roads, bridges

Increased stream flow, erosion and bridge scour

Pavement cracking, deformation; sun kinks (rail deformation)

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Adaptation OptionsAdaptation Options

• Maintain and manage Higher maintenance costs

• Protect, strengthen Sea walls, buffers, design changes

• Relocate Move key facilities, instead of rebuilding

• Promote redundancy Emergency management

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FHWA Adaptation StrategyFHWA Adaptation Strategy

• Plan & roadmap to prioritize & address key climate change adaptation issues: Aligned w/ USDOT Climate Change Initiative Includes FHWA multi-office adaptation activities Focus all aspects & phases in project delivery:

• Develop outreach & awareness material• Develop & pilot vulnerability & risk conceptual model• Facilitate topic specific studies (e.g., Gulf Coast Study)

• Identify research, guidance & training needs

• Assess transportation systems & infrastructure: Develop inventory of infrastructure assets Gather climate data Assess risk and vulnerability

• Identify which assets: Are most exposed to threats from climate change Could have the most serious consequences if affected Identify possible mitigation strategies

• Implementation Pilots

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Vulnerability/Risk Assessment Conceptual Model

Gulf Coast Study - Phase IIGulf Coast Study - Phase II

“Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure”

• Comprehensive assessment of how climate change will affect transportation in the Gulf Coast area

• Process for assessing critical transportation infrastructure, projecting climate change effects, evaluating vulnerability, and conducting detailed engineering assessments for vulnerable assets in Mobile, AL

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Peer ExchangesPeer Exchanges

• FHWA has conducted two peer exchanges (December 2008, 2009)

• Participants were upper level management of State DOTs

• Observations include Low level of current activity related to adaptation

Address significant research & technical assistance needs

Expand inter/Intra-agency relationships

Provide more geographically-relevant climate effects data

Ramp up public outreach & education

Implications for Project DesignImplications for Project Design

• Many transportation investments have long design lives and are very vulnerable to GCC effects

• Design parameters & conduct appropriate analysis: Bridges: Design approach that addresses wave force, storm

surge and scour vulnerabilities Pavement Design: Improved methodology for assessing

pavement damage due to prolonged inundation, rising water tables and increased freeze/thaw cycle frequency

Hydraulics: Modeling and design to account for greater frequency of 100-year storms and other intense conditions

FHWA’s Next Steps:FHWA’s Next Steps:

• Conduct pilot & continue to develop climate change vulnerability & risk conceptual model

• AASHTO & FHWA Symposium on Climate Change, Washington, DC, Aug. 5-6, 2010

• AASHTO & FHWA Workshop – develop research & technology transfer agenda/roadmap

• Coordinate integration of climate change & adaptation w/ other FHWA programs & national initiatives

• Continue to conduct outreach & develop material

Available Resources:Available Resources:

• USDOT Climate Change Clearinghouse:

http://www.climate.dot.gov/

• FHWA Climate Change & Adaptation Initiative:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/climate/index.htm

• AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence:

http://www.environment.transportation.org/

• FHWA Contacts: Michael Culp Michael.Culp@dot.gov John Davies JohnG.Davies@dot.gov Rob Kafalenos Robert.Kafalenos@dot.gov