Impacts of climate change on infrastructure planning and design:Past practices and future needs

Climate change is challenging the way utilities plan and design their infrastructure. The variability of climate change repercussions adds new uncertainties to the fundamental assumptions of infrastructure engineering. Utilities are faced with the prospect of modifying existing planning and design practices to address the risks presented by climate change; however, the difficulty lies in determining for which climate risks utilities need to plan. This article evaluates the potential effects of climate change on water utility planning and design through survey and case studies. On the basis of these findings, various strategies for adapting to the wide range of projected climate change impacts are discussed. A general framework for evaluating the effects of climate change on facility planning and design is also presented. This framework helps utilities identify which aspects may be sensitive to climate change as well as options that can be used to reduce the risks associated with climate change uncertainty.