Climate Change and Transportation Engineering: Preparing for a Sustainable Future

Climate change has been identified by many scientists, engineers, and public officials as one of the significant challenges facing society over the next several decades. And of civil engineered facilities, the transportation network is likely to be one of the systems most affected by changing climate, weather, and local environmental conditions. This paper examines the current practice of looking at transportation system adaptation to climate changes and develops a conceptual framework of the different components of transportation infrastructure that will be affected differently by a range of climate changes. An adaptive systems management approach is suggested as one approach for transportation engineers to anticipate likely climate changes, identify vulnerabilities in the transportation system, and assess different strategies for mitigating potential impacts. The result of this approach is a strategic perspective on what transportation agencies should do today and in the future to respond to changing environmental conditions. Developing an organizational strategy for dealing with the different elements of these changes is a critical component of this strategic perspective.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)TE.1943-5436.0000108
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/8674831
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from American Society of Civil Engineers
• Authors:
  • Meyer, Michael D
  • Weigel, Brent
• Publication Date: 2011-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 393-403
• Serial:
  • Journal of Transportation Engineering
  • Volume: 137
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-947X
  • Serial URL: https://ascelibrary.org/journal/jtepbs

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adaptive control; Climate change; Future; Infrastructure; Organizations; Risk management; Strategic planning; Sustainable transportation; Transportation engineering; Transportation system management
• Subject Areas: Environment; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General); I15: Environment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01349399
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ASCE, ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 7 2011 11:58PM