The new normal 

Against the backdrop of late 2023 with heavy rainfalls, strong winds, and flooding across the country we asked ourselves if and how the sector can respond quickly and effectively when infrastructure and transport services are disrupted by extreme weather events.

The Met Office has identified how climate is rapidly changing. Extreme weather events are predicted to be more frequent and severe with “a greater chance of warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers”  :

• Heavy rainfall events will increase, and rainfall levels will be higher in a shorter period of time,
• By 2050 hot summers (temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius) will happen every other summer,
• Wildfires will also increase due to higher temperatures and low summer rainfalls.  

Changing weather challenges the operability of our transport services in different ways, from softening road surfaces due to increased temperatures to closures of bridges due to heavy winds.

The terms "resilience" and "adaptation" describe the actions and decisions we make to promptly recover from storms, heat waves, or flooding as well as how we plan ahead, get ready for, and modify our infrastructure to withstand the effects of extreme weather events in the future.

In CIHT’s latest Masterclass we explored how we can include resilience in the way we operate our networks and provide transport services, hearing from: 

• Research from the University of Birmingham on Mapping Climate Risk and Vulnerability
• Direct experience of Surrey Country Council in responding to heavy storms and flooding through the Surrey Climate Change Strategy
• Transport for Wales' Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan 

Storms, heavy rainfalls and flooding- the importance of permeable surfaces 

The inadequate capacity for water to drain into the ground in urban environments has become an issue that many local authorities had to face during the recent storms of autumn 2023.

One significant issue contributing to urban flooding is the lack of green areas that play a crucial role in water drainage. Between 2001 and 2018, greenspace surfaces saw a substantial decline of 63-55%, increasing the problem.

To address these challenges, green solutions such as Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are being considered. SuDS mimic the natural flow of water, redirecting it through a circuit or facilitating infiltration back into the ground.

These solutions prove promising for both new developments and retrofitting existing assets, providing an effective strategy to create new attractive landscape features and habitats, increasing biodiversity and amenity in an area, as well as providing shade from heatwaves and improving local air quality.

The interdependency of infrastructures 

As we plan to adapt our infrastructure to the changing climate, we need to factor in an estimated increase in temperatures of approximately 3 degrees average in the next 40 years.

This involves not only mitigating emissions but also anticipating the consequences of a warmer climate.

A crucial aspect is recognising how different types of infrastructure are interconnected and how their operations can influence the transport sector. For example, scarcity or damage of water management infrastructure or electricity infrastructure can impact the highways assets. 

Know your assets…and your people 

Planning for the resilience and adaptation of transport infrastructure and services is a continuous and cyclical process involving some key aspects:

• conduct a comprehensive assessment of climate risks across all transportation networks to evaluate the condition of assets and consider the vulnerability of people and areas connected to these networks. 
  It is important to keep critical infrastructure risk assessments up to date, taking into account the potential impacts of extreme weather events.
• ensure communities can continue to travel, even during maintenance and resilience adaptation efforts. Moreover, these initiatives should be considered as an opportunity to enhance the social and economic circumstances of vulnerable communities.
• be aware of alternative transport routes that can be considered to mitigate disruptions caused by unforeseen events and redirect traffic. Local highway authorities should proactively engage in planning ahead and develop strategies around climate change and resilience to ensure a swift and effective response when needed.

These key steps involve conducting analysis and understanding risks, securing funding for implementation, and exploring various options and solutions. To facilitate this process, a diverse set of knowledge and skills is needed, including expertise from fire rescue services, wildlife trusts, water management engineers, and insurance companies, among others.

Ensuring there are adequate financial, and personnel resources is essential, including allocating resources not only for immediate responses but also for long-term maintenance and recovery efforts.

By incorporating these considerations into the planning framework, authorities can build a more resilient and adaptive transport infrastructure and contribute to the overall well-being of the communities it serves.

CIHT will shortly be releasing our transport manifesto for any future UK governments and a need to focus on resilience will be one of the main themes.

CIHT Awards 

Have you worked on a project that uses innovative technological solutions to solve transport issues? Why not submit it in the CIHT Awards, so it can get the recognition it deserves. 

The CIHT Awards is an annual global competition that can provide the work you are most proud of with the international recognition it deserves. The awards celebrate your innovative work, what it takes to be the best and the incredible benefits your work and the highways and transportation sector bring to society.

Your role is to produce incredible work, our role is to celebrate best practice, promote your professionalism and give it the biggest stage.

• The awards are free to enter
• No project too big or too small
• Entries can be from any location
• Entries are open to every organisation working in the sector, whether a CIHT partner or not
• Entries can be submitted by anyone whether a CIHT member or not
• Eligible projects can be entered for as many categories as appropriate
• An organisation can also enter as many distinct eligible projects as they wish for a category
• Entries are judged by impartial expert judges with a diversity of experience and opinion

Deadline 4 March 2024

Further reading 

The role of drainage systems in preventing flooding: The role of drainage systems in preventing flooding | CIHT

The importance of an infrastructure recovery strategy: The importance of an infrastructure recovery strategy | CIHT

How road infrastructure is adapting to severe weather: How road infrastructure is adapting to severe weather | CIHT

Policy Briefing: Overcoming Skills Gaps for the integration of SudS on Highways: Overcoming skills gaps for the integration of SuDS on highways | CIHT

First steps in Urban Water, University of Birmingham: http://epapers.bham.ac.uk/4284/

Policy Guide for Transport resilience, University of Birmingham : https://transport-links.com/download/state-of-knowledge-report-adaptation-for-transport-resilience-to-climate-change-aftr-cc-for-lics-in-africa-and-south-asia/

River Thames Scheme: River Thames Scheme

Take action: Record your CPD

CPD is defined as any activity that provides new knowledge or skills that help you to achieve your professional development goals or has otherwise helped you to develop as a highways and transportation professional
Plan, record and manage your CPD for free at CIHT Learn.
Need help with getting the most out of your CPD?  Don't worry CIHT can support you.  Access CIHT’s CPD Guidance here.

CIHT Events 

If you are interested, you can find out more about upcoming CIHT events here . 

Sponsorship 

To discuss sponsorship opportunities for future Masterclasses please contact Ben Sellers on Ben.Sellers@thinkpublishing.co.uk +(0)20 3771 7238.