States and cities are trying to come to terms with what the change means to them and how they can prepare for it. Transportation engineers build highways and bridges to last 50 or even 100 years. Now they are reconsidering how to do that, or even whether they can, with so much uncertainty. I wish […]
Tag Archives | infrastructure
Climate Change and Infrastructure [VIDEO]
Posted on September 13, 2012
NBC takes a look at the toll of climate change on public infrastructure. Not just a coastal problem.
Final Version of Coastal Best Development Practices Manual Released
Posted on July 23, 2012
This winter we mentioned an earlier draft of the Best Practices Manual for Development in Coastal Louisiana, but the final version is out now, and it looks great. You can find it on the project’s website. Even if you’re not in Louisiana, it’s worth a look.
New Tool to Easily View Future Sea Levels
Posted on July 16, 2012
The United State Army Corps of Engineers has released a handy tool for calculating future sea levels based on models or rates that you pick. The process couldn’t be easier. Head over to their Comprehensive Evaluation of Projects with Respect to Sea-Level Change page. Either enter the rates you’d like to use, or select from […]
San Francisco Struggles to Protect and Adapt to a Changing Shoreline
Posted on March 26, 2012
As an El Niño winter tears away its shoreline, San Francisco tries to figure out how or whether to protect homes, a $220 million wastewater treatment plant, and a world-famous road. The question facing at least eight local, state and federal agencies boils down to this: With California officials expecting climate change to raise sea […]
Best Practices for Coastal Louisiana Manual not just for Louisiana
Posted on February 4, 2012
The Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) recently released the Best Practices Manual for Development in Coastal Louisiana website. What’s novel about this site is that it provides strategies for creating sustainable and resilient coastal communities based on “geotypes” (pick from chenier plain, alluvium, upper riverbanks, middle riverbanks, […]
FEMA Releases First Edition of the National Preparedness Goal
Posted on October 4, 2011
From a FEMA press-release: We are pleased to announce the release of the first edition of the National Preparedness Goal, which is available for download at http://www.fema.gov/PPD8. The National Preparedness Goal is the first deliverable called for by Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) 8 and was signed by the Secretary of Homeland Security on September 23, […]
New Bedford Hurricane Barrier Maintenance to Start Next Month
Posted on September 19, 2011
The hurricane barrier protecting New Bedford will be pulled off-line for routine maintenance from October 24 to November 21 and then again next spring from April 30 to July 2. SouthCoastToday.com has the details. Image: City of New Bedford.
Rolling Easements: Finally, a Long-Term Approach for Rising Seas and Coastal Erosion?
Posted on June 21, 2011
It’s not hard to get overwhelmed when considering your community’s current flood and erosion problems. Add in projections for what future climates will bring and it’s enough to make you want to just stay at home (at least until the sea comes into your home). Unfortunately, nobody has found a silver bullet to save coastal […]
New England Climate Change: What’s Happening and What You Can Do
Posted on April 26, 2011
Our southern neighbors at the The University of Rhode Island Climate Change Collaborative and Rhode Island Sea Grant have just released a short new brochure on what climate change could mean for New England communities, and what steps your community can take to prepare for it. In addition to a brief overview of current expectations […]