The analysis of infrastructure asset susceptibility using high resolution climate projection modelling

• Main Authors: Rand, S, Gee, P, White, CJ, Corney, S, Bindoff, NL
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia 2011
• Subjects: Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Environmental Engineering Modelling; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://www.ipwea.org/events/eventdescription?CalendarEventKey=7bc52948-ef32-4224-973f-54caae09cf19; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/97448

Climate change is a feature of the 21st Century. Making sensible choices on how we can adapt toclimate hinges on understanding what changes are likely, where they are likely, and when they willstart to have a significant impact. pitt&sherry, a Tasmanian based consultancy, in partnership with the Antarctic Climate &Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC), with facilitated inputs from a range ofTasmanian infrastructure managers and planners have developed a climate susceptibility, analysisand communication tool. The spatial software based decision support tool assists owners,managers and planners to use customised, cutting edge future climate projections to assess thesusceptibility of their infrastructure to projected changes in climate at a local scale. The Climate Futures for Tasmania project completed by ACE CRC generated sophisticated climateprojections incorporating Tasmanias varied topography and its effect on local climate. The projectinvolved the analysis of the high resolution, multivariate, dynamically downscaled climateprojections. Customised outputs have been produced of specific relevance to infrastructure designstandards and codes. Engineering expertise combined with the cutting edge, customized modeloutput has expanded the knowledge base concerning climate change projections and potentialimpacts at local scales for direct application by a range of decision makers. Integrated within a single tool, the climate projections with reference and documentation of designstandards and codes, enables communication of projected changes and potential impacts toplanners and policy makers. Examples are presented of practical application of the decision support tool, ClimateAsyst, toprovide climate change impact analysis to assist planning and policy responses.