OUR TOP 10 CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECTS!

In order to support climate adaptation in Saxony-Anhalt in the best possible way, high-quality and meaningful climate data is essential to determine the risks and opportunities. It is also important to visualise the uncertainties and range of variation of the various climate models. In this project, we have analysed the climate models for Saxony-Anhalt and processed them in various forms. In addition to the rise in temperature and the associated increase in heat burden, the changes in precipitation are of particular importance. In the summer months, we can expect less precipitation and fewer rainy days but more intense heavy rainfall, while prolonged dry periods and even droughts are becoming increasingly likely. This makes water management a particularly urgent issue for climate adaptation in Saxony-Anhalt.

Trams are a popular and sustainable means of transport. When assessing particulate matter pollution from trams in the approval process, measurement results from larger, heavier trains travelling at higher speeds are consulted. In this project, we determined the contribution of trams to PM10 pollution for the first time using real measured values. Innovative measurement methods and statistical methods for source attribution were combined for this purpose. The data used was collected in winter and at a location heavily frequented by trams with a traffic situation that leads to particularly high abrasion. We determined a maximum load of 1 μg/m3 or 5 % of the particulate matter, which is significantly lower than the usual assumptions made in expert reports to date.

The continuous collection of environmental data such as air and water quality is an important urban task to protect the population from potential hazards. High-quality and trustworthy data is of great importance for this. The purely manual control of data quality has proven to be resource-intensive and errorprone. We have therefore developed a digital tool for the automated recording of data quality. We used machine learning and the application of the latest scientific findings. This enables the City of Auckland to recognise technical defects and other problems that lead to the incorrect recording of air and water quality measurements as soon as they occur and to rectify them in a targeted manner.

Regulations for the dimensioning of asphalt or concrete road surfaces are largely based on climate data, as penetrating frost and high temperatures contribute to mechanical fatigue. With climate change, temperatures and thus the fatigue of road structures are changing. Together with our partner ISAC GmbH, we have developed a methodology and results that allow the client to adapt existing regulations to the new requirements resulting from climate change. We have established that the warming of the climate leads to less material being required for frost protection, but on the other hand to more material being used to compensate for greater mechanical heat stress. Our results therefore contribute to more resilient roads in the long term.

Project description

Asphalt pavements on bridges are thin and therefore particularly vulnerable to high heat loads and deformations such as rutting. Increasing heat stress makes it necessary to develop new concepts for heat-resistant asphalts and to determine when these become necessary. We are working on this project together with our research partner KIT-ISE. We are calculating the current and future exposure of road surfaces to high temperatures. This enables us to estimate the time horizon in which climate change will have such a strong impact on asphalt pavements that their service life will be shortened to a relevant extent. At the end of the project, we will make recommendations as to when other materials should be used and which ones are most suitable.

Project description

Extreme weather events such as floods and hailstorms can lead to major damage to buildings and climate change will cause them to occur much more frequently. In this project, we are working in a consortium with infras AG, geomer GmbH and the University of Wuppertal to analyse the development of building damage due to climate change and the resulting need for adaptation. We also assess the extent to which adaptation measures can be effective for the identified needs. The combination of high-quality climate data, data on building damage and the composition of the building stock allows us to create a hazard profile for every district in Germany. Based on this, we determine the adaptation requirements and options so that the building stock of the future is more resilient to extreme weather events.

Increasing heat waves reduce the quality of well-being in public spaces and pose a threat to the health of people in the city. Our partner agl Stadt- und Raumplanung is working with the city of Saarbrücken on adaptation measures to reduce urban heat stress. With the help of high-resolution model simulations, we provide an important decision-making basis for identifying hotspots. In a further step, we use an innovative method to model the effects of different adaptation measures, such as tree planting or the creation of water areas, on local heat stress. By comparing the results of different implementation scenarios with regard to the resulting heat load, we are able to determine which measures are particularly effective in creating a more pleasant urban climate.

The offshore wind industry is highly competitive and the long-term profitability of individual projects is extremely important. In recent years, our client has noticed major deviations in energy yield from expected values. Using highresolution climate data and innovative statistical methods, we were able to analyse the effects of climate change using scientific methodology and classify the deviations that have occurred. While today’s deviations are well within the expected range of climatic variability, climate change is likely to have a relevant impact on productivity in the future due to the absence of particularly high yields and the increased occurrence of lower yields. This analysis enabled our client to better assess the risk profile of its investment and take appropriate measures.

Snow and frost are known to be a challenge for rail transport. However, it is not known what effects the weather phenomena have in detail and how the weather conditions will change with climate change. Together with our partners from the IFB and the Erzgebirgsbahn railway company, we are investigating the effects based on real-life incidents. We are also determining the operational risks posed by the occurrence of snowfall and frost events today and in the future as a result of climate change. Our detailed approach enables us to identify the need for action and present it in a regionally differentiated manner. While the number of all disruption events is decreasing due to climate change, very serious individual events are increasing. This enables our client to take further steps to improve the climate resilience of rail transport.

Brief project description

Access to electricity in Ghana is often lacking and small-scale solutions such as solar mini-grids are a sensible transitional concept until connection to the growing power grid. The localities relevant to this project are located along the Volta River and are therefore exposed to flooding risks. Together with partners, we analysed the geographical conditions of the region in more detail. We then quantified the physical climate risks today and in the near future and presented them in an easily accessible risk profile. At the same time, we developed pragmatic adaptation measures appropriate to the framework conditions of the investments. This enabled us to equip our client with the necessary knowledge to drive forward the electrification of Ghana in a climate-resilient manner.

Project description