welcome

Infrastructure Resiliency Planning & Strategy at the Municipal Level

Adapt, Thrive, and Survive Climate Impacts

Who we are• Since 1899• Over 500

professionals• 19 Office

Locations on East Coast

• Three companies

Proven Industry Leader

• Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm in US (Rank #18)*• Top 200 Design Firm in US (Rank #186)**• Top 200 Environmental Engineering Firm in US (Rank #117)**• Top 500 Design Firm in US**

*According to Trenchless Technology

**According to the Engineering News Record

• Water

• Wastewater

• MEP/SCADA

• Stormwater

• Infrastructure Resiliency

• Architecture

• Landscape Architecture

• Information Technology/GIS

• Transportation

• Solid Waste

Weston & Sampson Services

• Renewable Energy

• Hazardous Waste Services

• Structural Engineering

• Geotechnical Engineering, Dams

• Public Works Facilities

• Surveying

• Environmental Science & Permitting

• Operation & Maintenance Services

• Construction

Weston & Sampson Services

• Operation & Maintenance• Water & Sewer System

Maintenance• Emergency Repairs (24 - 7) • Cross Connection Control

& Backflow Prevention• Treatment Plant & System

Operations• Design/Build• Construction

CMR & SERVICES

Recent Resiliency & Flooding Projects• Church Creek Drainage Project – Charleston, SC

• City of Boston Climate Resilience Design Standards – Boston, MA

• MBTA Blueline (Aquarium to Maverick Stations) Flood Vulnerability Assessment – Boston, MA

• DCR Draw Seven Park – Somerville, MA

• DCAMM State-wide Resiliency Master Plan, Massachusetts

• Coastal Vulnerability Assessment Lynn Economic Development & Industrial Corporation – Lynn, MA

• LoPresti Park Engineering and Design Services –East Boston, MA

• Chelsea Creek Wetland Restoration/Habitat Conservation – Chelsea, MA

• Chelsea Flood Resiliency Improvements –Chelsea, MA

• Increase tidal and nuisance flooding

• Sea Level Rise –Global

• Sea Level Rise -Local

• Storm surge

• Extreme weather events

• Slow moving storms• Increased volume of

precipitation• More frequent events

TASK 6Implement adaptation and preparedness plan and monitor progress

TASK 5Identify and select adaptation strategies using C.E.F.T.A.C. analysis

TASK 4Evaluate risk given probability of climate scenario and consequence

TASK 3Identify the tipping point that would damage each critical asset

TASK 2Identify critical assets located in vulnerable areas

TASK 1

Map climate conditions under future conditions

PHASE 1 – CLIMATE

SCENARIO SELECTION

PHASE 2 –

VULNERABILITY AND

RISK ANALYSIS

PHASE 3 – ADAPTATION

STRATEGIES

Resiliency Process

PHASE 1 – CLIMATE SCENARIO SELECTION

• Synthesis of available relevant technical

analyses and reports

• Coastal Geomorphology

• Watershed Characteristics

• Asset Locations and Information

• Compilation of GIS data

• Development of Study Scenarios

• Preliminary review of relevant regulations

• Time Horizon Selection– Most Data Available for 2030 and 2070– Accommodate Planning Horizon with development– 25 years, 50 years

Climate Scenarios

Existing Sea Level

1 ft. Sea Level Rise

2 ft. Sea Level Rise

3 ft. Sea Level Rise

Bathtub versus dynamic model• Storm events striking an area can result

in significantly different impacts – timing of the storm with the tide cycle– storm track– radius to maximum wind of a tropical storm– amount of precipitation, etc.

• Data for design– Probability of flooding (annual

exceedance)– Depth of Flooding– Flood pathways– Residence times– Wind– Waves– Percent probability exceedance over all

time horizons

Source: The Woods Hole Group. Kirk Bosma: CLIMATE CHANGE PRIORITIZATION,

EcoSeptember 2016

Flood Pathways & Residence Times

Precipitation and Inland Flooding

PHASE 2 – VULNERABILITY AND RISK ANALYSIS

INFRASTRUCTURE & PROPERTY

CLIMATE HAZARDS

CRITICAL ASSETS

RISK RANKING

22

January 17, 2017 Climate Change Adaptation and Uncertainty

Local Sea Level Rise

23

• Sea Level Rise & Storm Surge

• Inland Precipitation

• Heat

• Sea Level Rise & Storm Surge

• Inland Precipitation

• Heat

CLIMATE CHANGE SCENARIOS

P(Event)

• Review of Existing Information

• Inspection

• Interview

• Review of Existing Information

• Inspection

• Interview

SITE/FACILITY CHARACTERIZATION

P(Damages|Event) = Adaptive Capacity *

Sensitivity

Risk =P(Event)*P(Damages)

*Consequence

ADAPTATION

STRATEGIES

Mitigate Risk

Risk Analysis – Site Specific

• Interview

• Public Health & Safety

• Economic Impact

• Interdependency

• Interview

• Public Health & Safety

• Economic Impact

• Interdependency

SITE/FACILITY CHARACTERIZATION

Consequence

Vulnerable Facility Elements

Identify Site Exposure and Scenarios

Site Specific Evaluation and Inspection

25

Data Collection and Tabulation

PHASE 3 – ADAPTATION STRATEGIES

PHASE 3 – ADAPTATION STRATEGIES

Source: Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook

Cost

$$$

Effectiveness

(Risk Reduction)

Feasibility

(Implementation)

Timing

(Short Term vs. Long Term)

Adaptability

(Flexibility)

Co-benefits

(Mitigation)

Adaptation Criteria – C.E.F.T.A.C

Adaptation Strategies – Co-benefits

CONTRIBUTIVE – Opportunity to make changes in your community.

DRAW SEVEN PARK

Elevate and ProtectIncremental Adaptation

Embrace Water

Image credit: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Julienne

Schaer

Image credit: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Etienne

FrossardImage credit: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Julienne

Schaer

• Elevate grades for

critical site features

• Elevated walkways

• Flood barriers

• Identify site evolution

Design for future climate

impacts

• Downstream protection

• Identify areas to

embrace water for

frequent flooding

and storm events

CLIMATE RESILIENCE MEASURES TO MANAGE CHRONIC AND ACUTE CHANGES IN ENVIRONMENT OVER TIME

Church Creek Drainage Design

Boston Public Works DepartmentClimate Resilient Design Standards – Incremental Approaches

Transform Harborwalk into flood barrier

Create vegetated berms in waterfront open spaces as flood barrier

Source: “The Low Battery.” Design Division For The Common Good, www.designdivision.org/lowbattery/.

Source: Blackman, Austin, et al. “COASTAL RESILIENCE SOLUTIONS FOR EAST BOSTON AND

CHARLESTOWN.” Climate Ready Boston.

Source: Carlson, Jen. “Brooklyn Bridge Park Now 80% Complete As Pier 5 Uplands Officially Open.” Gothamist, 7 July 2017, 1:55 PM,

gothamist.com/2017/07/07/brooklyn_bridge_park_pier_5_uplands_photos.php#photo-10. (left) and Scioto

Mile_Columbus_greenways3_MKSK(right)

Boston Public Works DepartmentClimate Resilient Design Standards – Incremental Approaches

Raise roadways to create flood barrier

Standards for deployable flood barriers

Source: Blackman, Austin, et al. “COASTAL

RESILIENCE SOLUTIONS FOR EAST BOSTON

AND CHARLESTOWN.” Climate Ready Boston.

Source:

ttps://www.norfolk.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1

6292

Source: “Austria's mighty mobile flood walls can hold back 15 ft of floodwater-an ingenious initiative! - NTD Inspired.”

Www.ntd.tv, 16 Sept. 2017, www.ntd.tv/inspiring/life/austrias-mighty-mobile-flood-walls-can-hold-back-15-ft-of-

floodwater-an-ingenious-initiative.html.

Source: “ILC Dover – Side Deployed Flexwall

Chelsea Pump Station Example: Resilience tied into existing project

• Approx. 1,400 feet of new stormwater force main and abandonment of existing

force main

• A new discharge structure at a culvert

• Flood resiliency improvements at the Carter Street Pump Station

• A wall around the perimeter of the pump station and a surface drain

system to remove water captured within the enclosed perimeter

Weston & Sampson provided design, permitting, and bidding services. The scope of

work included:

• Base-flood Elevation

• Hydrostatic Pressure and Uplift

• Geotechnical• Structural• Interior drainage• Systems upgrades• Emergency Power• Access

Design Considerations

• Planning Horizon: Before & During

• Strategy: Protect

• Cost – $ - $$. Customized to openings

• Effectiveness – Max: depends on structural strength of

building walls and connections

• Feasibility – Yes: easy to install, use, store and transport

• Adaptability – Flexible: Adjust to water height

• Timing - Short term: <1 hour installation

• Co-benefits - No.

Image courtesy of PS Flood Barriers

VULNERABLE

FACILITY ELEMENTLOCATION

CLIMATE

STRESSPRIORITY

Basement doorways to

Outdoor Equipment Room,

Mechanical Room, etc.

North side of site Extreme

Precipitation &

Flooding

High

Adaptation Strategies – Example

Image courtesy of Global Industrial

Design Considerations for Kiawah

• Surrounded by water • Beach erosion • Three tidal inlets• Transport of fines• Settlement • Liquefaction• Groundwater

(existing and future)• Ecosystem/Habitat

• Public Health and Safety

• Transportation• Property and real estate• Tourism• Salt marsh• Drainage and outfalls• Power and Electricity• Communications

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