Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure: The Gulf Coast Study, Phase 2, Task 3.2: Engineering Analysis and Assessment

Acknowledging the importance of establishing systematic, transferable approaches for assessing and addressing vulnerability to climate- and weather-related risks, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT's) Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting commissioned a comprehensive, multiphase study of climate change impacts on transportation in the Central Gulf Coast region. This study is formally known as "Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure: Gulf Coast Study" (hereafter, “the Gulf Coast Study”). Phase 1 (completed in 2008) examined the impacts of climate change on transportation infrastructure at a regional scale. Phase 2 (nearing completion) provides a more detailed assessment of the vulnerability of the most critical components of the transportation system in Mobile, Alabama to weather events and long-term changes in climate. This report, Phase 2, Task 3.2, discusses a series of engineering assessments on specific transportation facilities in Mobile that evaluated whether those facilities might be vulnerable to projected changes in climate, and what specific adaptation measures could be effective in mitigating those vulnerabilities. The purpose of the engineering assessments was twofold: (1) Develop and test a detailed climate impact assessment process (The Process) that both evaluates the climate vulnerabilities of specific transportation assets, and evaluates possible adaptation strategies that could be implemented. The methodologies developed for these assessments could be applied to similar facilities elsewhere. This report represents one of the few resources available to transportation practitioners that include engineering methodologies for evaluating climate change vulnerabilities and adaptation measures at the facility level. (2) Explain and document Mobile-specific findings for each facility-climate stressor pair, including any findings that may apply more generally to engineering design practices, operations and maintenance practices, or other lessons learned.

• Record URL:
  http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/climate_change/adaptation/ongoing_and_current_research/gulf_coast_study/phase2_task3/task_3.2/task2phase3.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/50863
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Reviewers: Brian Beucler, Rob Hyman, and Rob Kafalenos. Contributing authors: Michael Flood, Ismail Karatas, Susan Asam, Brenda Dix, Katy Maher, Mike Savonis, Cassandra Snow, Scott Douglass, and Bret Webb.
• Corporate Authors:

  Parsons Brinckerhoff

  1401 K Street, NW, Suite 701
  Washington, DC  United States  20005

  ICF International

  1725 I Street, NW, Suite 1000
  Washington, DC  United States  20006

  Department of Transportation

  Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Federal Highway Administration

  Office of Planning, Environment and Realty (HEP)
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Baesch, John
  • Batac, Tiffany
  • Bottomley, Glenn
  • Dorney, Chris
  • Erchul, Mary
  • Gupton, Everett
  • Keller, Jake
  • Kinghorn, Robert
  • Lennon, Justin
  • Louie, Benny
  • McVoy, Gary
  • Meyer, Michael
  • Ramsden, Jerry
  • Snyder, Robert
  • Sokol, Victor
  • Wang, Stefany
  • Choate, Anne
  • Rodehorst, Beth
• Publication Date: 2014-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 346p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Climate change; Climate change adaptation; Design practices; Infrastructure; Maintenance practices; Methodology; Metropolitan areas; Risk assessment
• Geographic Terms: Gulf Coast; Mobile (Alabama)
• Subject Areas: Environment; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General); I15: Environment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01541858
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-HEP-15-004
• Contract Numbers: GS-10F-0124J
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 27 2014 12:03PM