SESSION: CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATIONS Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Project: New Level of...
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SESSION: CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATIONS Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Project: New Level of Infrastructure Planning, City of Cambridge, MA Rich Niles., Senior Project Manager, AMEC AMEC is one of the technical leads for the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts as a subcontractor to Kleinfelder, Inc. The City of Cambridge has been working for over two decades to address a variety of environmental issues and has recognized climate change as an increasing concern requiring attention. The City wishes to evaluate and prepare to adapt to a variety of climate change phenomena that may affect the welfare of the City and its infrastructure. This presentation will discuss the scope of work to evaluate potential climate change related impacts to the City of Cambridge. This includes a screening and prioritization of critical infrastructure based on existing known problems, available data and key characteristics that are unique to the City of Cambridge (e.g., surface water supply, tidal waterfront). The Project Team and stakeholders have begun to identify and rank vulnerabilities for further evaluation in conjunction with on-going efforts by others, such as the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). For example, the MassDOT is conducting a vulnerability assessment of the Central Artery tunnels to flooding and the City of Cambridge intends to expand upon the results of this modeling effort and enhance its vulnerability assessment with respect to storm surge, sea level rise and localized flooding. This presentation will highlight the newest challenge that cities face to begin evaluating climate change impacts. Once the vulnerability assessment is complete, the City of Cambridge anticipates developing a climate change preparedness plan. Rich Niles is a Senior Project Manager with AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. and a key lead for Water Resource Services in the Northeast U.S. and the firm’s international Climate Change Practice. Rich has been assisting communities for the last 14 years to develop and implement a variety of water resource and infrastructure management programs. His projects encompass a wide range of expertise from stormwater management and finance programs to stream restoration, flood mitigation and levee assessment. Rich is well suited in the management of complex multi-disciplinary projects that often involve working with stakeholder groups in multiple jurisdictions. Nathalie Beauvais has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of architecture, urban design and planning with a strong emphasis on sustainability, climate change and the integration of planning and engineering expertise. She is a senior member of Kleinfelder’s sustainability practice where she currently manages the team of scientists, academics and sustainability experts conducting the City of Cambridge Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan and the Massport Disaster Infrastructure and Resiliency Planning Study. She is an author and speaker on comprehensive planning, sustainable planning and Nathalie Beauvais. AICP MOAQ Intl. Assoc. AIA LEED AP, Kleinfelder
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Transcript of SESSION: CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATIONS Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Project: New Level of...
SESSION: CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATIONS Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Project: New Level of Infrastructure Planning, City of Cambridge, MARich Niles., Senior Project Manager, AMEC
AMEC is one of the technical leads for the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts as a subcontractor to Kleinfelder, Inc. The City of Cambridge has been working for over two decades to address a variety of environmental issues and has recognized climate change as an increasing concern requiring attention. The City wishes to evaluate and prepare to adapt to a variety of climate change phenomena that may affect the welfare of the City and its infrastructure.
This presentation will discuss the scope of work to evaluate potential climate change related impacts to the City of Cambridge. This includes a screening and prioritization of critical infrastructure based on existing known problems, available data and key characteristics that are unique to the City of Cambridge (e.g., surface water supply, tidal waterfront). The Project Team and stakeholders have begun to identify and rank vulnerabilities for further evaluation in conjunction with on-going efforts by others, such as the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). For example, the MassDOT is conducting a vulnerability assessment of the Central Artery tunnels to flooding and the City of Cambridge intends to expand upon the results of this modeling effort and enhance its vulnerability assessment with respect to storm surge, sea level rise and localized flooding.
This presentation will highlight the newest challenge that cities face to begin evaluating climate change impacts. Once the vulnerability assessment is complete, the City of Cambridge anticipates developing a climate change preparedness plan.
Rich Niles is a Senior Project Manager with AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. and a key lead for Water Resource Services in the Northeast U.S. and the firm’s international Climate Change Practice. Rich has been assisting communities for the last 14 years to develop and implement a variety of water resource and infrastructure management programs. His projects encompass a wide range of expertise from stormwater management and finance programs to stream restoration, flood mitigation and levee assessment. Rich is well suited in the management of complex multi-disciplinary projects that often involve working with stakeholder groups in multiple jurisdictions. Nathalie Beauvais has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of architecture, urban design and planning with a strong emphasis on sustainability, climate change and the integration of planning and engineering expertise. She is a senior member of Kleinfelder’s sustainability practice where she currently manages the team of scientists, academics and sustainability experts conducting the City of Cambridge Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan and the Massport Disaster Infrastructure and Resiliency Planning Study. She is an author and speaker on comprehensive planning, sustainable planning and climate change. Ms. Beauvais teaches at Wentworth Institute of Technology in the Master Program for Architecture.
Nathalie Beauvais. AICP MOAQ Intl. Assoc. AIA LEED AP, Kleinfelder
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for Cambridge, MA
A new level of infrastructure planning
June 18, 2014
AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.
and
Kleinfelder, Inc.
Transportation Research Board Committee ADC60
Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Workshop, New York City
Photo source: City of Cambridge
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Climate Change Trends
Extreme precipitation events
Increased flooding
Increased temperature - heat stress & health impactsJuly 2010 Street Flooding
Source: City of Cambridge
Increase in Mean and Variance
Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2012
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Is this our future?
Image Source: Boston.com
Lots of interest in climate change Lots of interest in climate change phenomena and extreme weather events . . . phenomena and extreme weather events . . .
not all of it is based on good science.not all of it is based on good science.
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Shift in Thinking for Climate Change Planning
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City of Cambridge
6.43 sq mi (16.65 km2)
105,162 pop.
Density 16,422 people/mi2
Comparison of Population/mi2
Boston: 12,900/mi2 Los Angeles: 7,544/mi2 New York City: 27,532/mi2
Source: Bing.com
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Drivers for Preparedness Planning
Charles River Dam
Flooding
Water Supply
Reservoirs
Dense Populatio
n
Evacuation Routes
Critical Facilities &
Infrastructure
Source: Bing.com
Economic Assets
Amelia Earhart Dam
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Scope of Work
Phase I
Climate Change Scenarios Sea Level Rise Extreme Weather Events
Risk & Vulnerability Assessment Infrastructure Assessment Social Environment
Phase II
Preparedness Plan
We are partly through Phase I . . .
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Phase I Overview
1. Stakeholder Engagement
2. Existing Conditions/Data Collection & Climate Change Projections
3. Scenario Development – Boundary Conditions
4. Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
5. Final Report
http://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Projects/Climate/climatechangeresilianceandadaptation.aspx
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Working through the process . . .
Many Players Varying interests Engaged & informed public
Cambridge Mayor Henrietta Davis
Joins 45 Mayors and County
Leaders Nationwide in Pledge to
Create More Resilient Cities
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Data Collection(example)
DRAFT
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Data Collection(example)
DRAFT
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Data Collection(example)
DRAFT
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Project Elements & Preliminary Analysis
Climate change scenario evaluation
Calibration with local data for Cambridge
To be incorporated into modeling
Source: ATMOS, 2013Source: ATMOS, 2013
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Leveraging Local Efforts
Image Source: MassDOT
Map Source: The Boston Harbor
Association
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MA Hurricane Study (based on SLOSH Model)
Category 2 Hurricane Surge Inundation Area (dark green)
Sustained winds of 96-110 mph
Charles River Dam:
Design High Tide = 113’
Top of Dam = 118’
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Elements of Success
Exercise due diligence to balance planning, science & engineering analysis
Need good local data
Stakeholder engagement is key
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment is becoming an integral planning element
Lots More Work to be Done . . .
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Questions & Contact Information
AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.
Rich Niles
Water Resources Project Manager
271 Mill Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824
978-392-5355
Kleinfelder
Nathalie Beauvais, Int’l Assoc. AIA, AICP, LEED AP
Senior Project Manager
215 1st Street, Suite 320
Cambridge, MA 02142
617-498-4651
City of Cambridge, MA
John Bolduc
Environmental Planner
344 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-349-4628
http://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Projects/Climate/climatechangeresilianceandadaptation.aspx
Additional Project Team Members: Dr. Paul Kirshen, University of New Hampshire Consensus Building Institute Catalysis Adaptation Partners Dr. Pat Kinney, Columbia UniversityDr. Katharine Hayhoe, ATMOS ResearchThe Resiliency Place
