Adaptation of French standards for design, maintenance and operation of transport infrastructures

Autor: © Olivier Malassingne (Cerema)

At the request of the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy (DGITM), Cerema (Centre d’Études et d’Expertise sur les Risques, l’Environnement, la Mobilité et l’Aménagement) under supervision of the French Administration, completed in 2015 a systematic review of standards and guidelines on the design, maintenance and operation of transport infrastructures. The aim of this review was to adapt transport infrastructures and systems to future climate conditions and foster greater resilience to the effects of extreme weather events. The screening process is being followed by the actual revision and update of the standards, in order to cope with the foreseen changes in climate by 2100; the new standards will replace the existing ones for the design, maintenance and operation of transport infrastructure. The final purpose of the process is to make sure that transport infrastructure, with a long time span of service (sometimes of 100 years or more) can satisfactorily cope with the conditions imposed by future climate and extreme weather events.