International Road Experts Meet to Find Solutions for Extreme Weather Effects

Date: 6/12/2010

TRL is participating in an international conference later this week, when experts from across the globe gather to discuss how to overcome the impacts of bad weather related to climate change. The ERA-NET Road Conference - "Road Owners Getting To Grips With Climate Change" - takes place in Cologne, Germany, on the 8th and 9th December.

"Road Owners Getting to Grips with Climate Change" is a trans-national funded joint research programme in which eleven National Road Administrations participated. The research will result in a series of reports that focus on different aspects of climate change and its effects on the management of national road networks that can be applied across Europe. The reports will be important in facilitating the understanding of this research across the funding Member States and will take the form of proposed guidelines.

The road network is heavily influenced by climate conditions. Climate change may result in more frequent and unpredictable intense rainfall, more variable winters and warmer summers, with increases in wind speed and storm frequency. Road authorities need to evaluate the effect of climate change on the road network and take remedial action through all aspects of road management including design, construction and maintenance. At the same time, consideration must be given to safety and accessibility to ensure that users' expectations are not compromised.

The adaptation of road networks to these changes is one of the important issues that road authorities need to address. The research programme is aimed at providing road authorities with the knowledge and tools necessary to "get to grips" with climate change and its effects on all elements of road management, by adapting design rules, updating and improving data collection, and developing risk management methods.

Through its membership of FEHRL (the Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories), TRL will be providing the rapporteur for the first workshop session which will be discussing two particular projects: RIMAROCC - Risk Management for Roads in a Changing Climate and, SWAMP - Storm Water Prevention Methods to Predict Damage from the Water Stream In and Near Road Pavements in Lowland Areas.

The conference is free to attend and anyone wishing to register or who requires further details, including the programme and practical information, should visit the FEHRL website (http://www.fehrl.org/index.php?m=287)

Notes to Editors

RIMAROCC - the objective of this project is to develop a common ERA-NET ROAD method for risk analysis and risk management with regard to climate change. The purpose is to support decision making concerning adaptation measures in the road sector. To facilitate the work of end users the method will be based upon, or at least be compatible with, general existing methods for risk analysis (and management) within the ERA-NET ROAD funders and other relevant methods. The project is focusing on Risk Analysis - with risk assessment, risk management in cost-benefit analysis and level of acceptable risk, and on Risk management Options. This integrated approach will greatly facilitate the consistency of methodological deliverables and the work of end users among road authorities. Specific attention will be given to both new road design and improvement/maintenance/operation of existing roads.

SWAMP - the project deals with drainage and drainage systems on or near road networks in lowland areas eg The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the UK. The project will result in two sets of guidelines: firstly, to help identify places on the existing network which should obtain high priority in order to get best use of limited financial resources. Secondly, guidelines on a more detailed level indicating when preliminary studies and decisions should be taken and when necessary, initiatives that should  take place to either avoid or limit the consequences of flooding in certain areas.

Additional Project information: http://www.eranetroad.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76&Itemid=79

To request a media badge for the conference, please go to the registration page,

http://www.fehrl.org/?m=285&mode=register&id=24      and tick the media badge box.

Issued by TRL's Communication Team
Contact Mary Treen or Sarah Bailey
Tel: +44(0) 1344 70514/0141
Email: mediaenquiries@trl.co.uk