The IM Group takes part in a Stress-Test-Workshop in Krakow, Poland!
Prof. Bryan Adey and Dr. Marcelo Galleguilos Torres took part in a UNECE workshop in Krakow, Poland. The workshop was organised by the Trans-European Railway (TER) project and hosted by the Polish Railway Lines Plant (PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.). The workshop took place on 17 May 2024 in Krakow, Poland.
Strengthening the resilience of transport systems to climate change.
Extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, are increasingly threatening the sustainability of safe, reliable and equitable transport systems worldwide. Adaptation to these impacts is urgently needed.
The UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe), through the Committee on Inland Transport, has been proactively addressing this challenge for over a decade. Its efforts include the development of frameworks and guidelines, such as the “Stress Testing Framework for Assessing the Resilience of Transport Systems to Climate Change”. This framework provides practical guidance on how to conduct stress tests to determine whether transport systems can maintain acceptable levels of service during climate hazards or whether adaptations are needed.
In this context, railway experts recently gathered in Krakow, Poland, for a workshop organised by the Trans-European Railway (TER) project and hosted by the Polish Railway Lines Plant (PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.). Professors Dr Bryan T. Adey and Dr Marcelo Galleguillos Torres from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich conducted a simulated stress test on a railway line exposed to flood hazards using expert opinions. This exercise demonstrated the ease of use of such a tool and the benefits in terms of analysing the best actions to take to be better prepared for a flood event. Two Master's students (Zhaoyu Wang and Sacha Thill) were involved in setting up the workshop as part of their Master's project.
Prof. Dr. Bryan T. Adey emphasised the value of standardised stress tests in quickly identifying potential problems and ensuring that transport managers are well prepared for climate impacts. Włodzimierz Zembol, Director of Railway Lines Plant, noted the importance of understanding extreme weather impacts for targeted infrastructure maintenance and investment planning.
The workshop demonstrated the practical application of stress testing, which can be applied to any transport asset. Further details can be found in the UNECE Stress Testing Framework.
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