VSVI seminar: Climate adaptation of state roads

There is no blueprint for climate adaptation, but a strategic approach is needed: On March 20, our research assistants Luisa Ritter and Benjamin Kraff, together with Ms. Astheimer-Heger from Hessen Mobil, presented the results of our two expert reports at the VSVI seminar in Friedberg. The state roads in Hesse are already affected by heat, flooding, freeze-thaw cycles and storm damage. In order to ensure the efficiency and safety of the infrastructure, adjustments are essential. However, these are often associated with high investment costs, which is why a clear approach is required. Here are the most important points from the presentation:

1. exposure analysis

Climate impacts can have very different local effects. On the one hand, climate space types and hazard maps are a good orientation, on the other hand, the local topography, soils and land uses adjacent to the roads are central.

2 Sensitivity analysis

Various parameters (routes, structures) and documented cases of damage help to identify sections of road that are already at risk.

3. criticality analysis

The importance of the route section for the functionality of the overall system is central to making decisions about where to prioritize investment in adaptations.

What does this mean?

- The intensity of climate change impacts varies greatly from place to place

- Regulations must be more dynamic, future-oriented and designed for different framework conditions

- More agile planning is necessary, particularly due to the long planning horizons

- Long-term strategies must be developed by infrastructure operators in order to manage the deployment of personnel and resources in the context of new challenges posed by climate change

ℹ Background

The Department of Spatial and Infrastructure Planning was commissioned by Hessen Mobil to prepare two expert reports from 2021 to 2023. Prof. Linke's team has developed a hazard analysis of Hessian state roads and a methodical approach to climate adaptation of the state road infrastructure. The first report is publicly available: https://lnkd.in/eeJXD5yb