Climate change requires new standards
Climate-proof transport infrastructure: strategy for adapting regulations
Transport infrastructure, especially rail and road, is increasingly affected by climate change and its consequences. In order to minimize potential damage and disruption to transport routes, valantic has been commissioned by the Deutsches Zentrum für Schienenverkehrsforschung (DZSF) at Eisenbahn-Bundesamt (EBA) to develop a strategy to adapt transport infrastructure regulations to climate change.
Challenges
Climate change brings with it consequences such as rising temperatures, more extreme weather events, rising sea levels and ecological and social problems. This also affects transport infrastructure, particularly rail and road transport. There is a great need to adapt existing regulations, standards and design principles in the area of infrastructure in order to adapt them to future climate conditions and minimize potential damage.
Consulting approach
The project is carried out in three successive phases: Literature research, regulatory analysis and the development of an implementation strategy. The project is being carried out in close cooperation with experts from various modes of transport in order to develop well-founded recommendations for adapting the regulations.
Customer benefits & solution
The solution approach developed by valantic consists of the development of a strategy for adapting the regulations to climate change, including the creation of a strategy paper and a final report. The project is expected to be completed in Q4/2025.
The client
Since its foundation in May 2019, the Deutsche Zentrum für Schienenverkehrsforschung (DZSF) has been used as a federal departmental research facility for rail transport. As an independent federal institute at the Eisenbahn-Bundesamt, it supports rail transport in Germany through practice-oriented research. This enables the development and implementation of important innovations that benefit the entire sector.
A central component of the work of the DZSF is the processing of rail transport-related issues of the Federal Government. The institute coordinates research activities and manages research topics in line with demand. The transfer of knowledge is actively promoted through the publication of research results, the organization of colloquia and symposia and participation in conferences at national and international level.
The Challenge
Climate change leads to essential challenges such as global temperature increases, more extreme weather events, rising sea levels and significant ecological and social challenges. Transport infrastructure is also increasingly affected by climate change, e.g. through damage to infrastructure caused by landslides, road closures due to embankment fires or flooding, or damage to roadways (e.g. deformation) due to the effects of heat. Regulations, standards and design principles are an important means of realizing the gradual adaptation of transport infrastructure to climate change. If future or anticipated future climatic conditions are integrated into these documents, impairments and damage to the transport infrastructure can be limited and minimized. Previous studies by the BMDV expert network show the greatest need for adaptation in the area of infrastructure.
Our consulting approach
The main aim of the project is to carry out a detailed and structured analysis of regulations, guidelines and standards relating to transport infrastructure with regard to the question of whether potential changes due to climate change need to be taken into account. In particular, the focus will be on regulations in the field of infrastructure, especially rail and road infrastructure. This area is particularly relevant due to the long service life of structures – bridges, for example, are often expected to last for at least 100 years. There are also time-consuming processes for implementing changes to the regulations, and the planning processes for large infrastructure projects are also very extensive.
Approaches and methods
Selected examples of rail and road transport infrastructure regulations will be examined in detail and recommendations for adapting the regulations will be derived. The project will be carried out in three basic phases that build on each other:
Literature research
First, a literature review of national and international studies and regulations will be carried out. These are intended to provide a detailed overview of previous methods for adapting regulations to climate change impacts on the one hand and the analyzed transport regulations in the context of climate change impacts on the other.
Rule analysis
On this basis, a detailed analysis of exemplary regulations for rail and road transport infrastructure will now be carried out by means of the regulatory studies; the results will be documented in the form of structured profiles, including an assessment of the expected effects and the importance of adapting the regulations.
Implementation strategy
Finally, in the last phase, an implementation strategy for adapting rail and road transport regulations to climate change will be formulated and documented in the form of a handout. The strategy will be developed with the close involvement of experts from various modes of transport within the framework of working group meetings.
Project results
As a result, a strategy paper of the evaluated data and information will be available by the end of November 2025, as well as a final report summarizing the findings and recommendations for further action. You can read the project results here in Q4/2025.
Questions about the project?
We are happy to help you!
Dr. Michael Eble
Partner & Managing Director
valantic Division Digital Strategy & Analytics