Infrastructure

 Following on from the previous COP, this theme focuses on the scientific challenges connected with adapting to climate change and the energy, environmental and digital transitions of infrastructure.

It aims to provide answers to the problems posed by ageing assets that are both exposed to new stresses resulting from climate change and constrained by demands for increasing services in what is a very difficult situation with regard to public budgets.
Extreme climate-related events acting on infrastructure and other natural events, operational measures, or even the effects of accidents are changing. Ensuring the sustainability, reliability and resilience of strategic transport infrastructure (roads, railways, inland waterways, ports and airports, underground spaces, cable transport) and energy production infrastructure is a challenge for our society which requires a high level of safety and expects a high level of service.

Better knowledge of the ageing processes that affect structures and their materials is necessary, in addition to an up-to-date characterisation of mechanical actions and loads, particularly in the event of extreme phenomena.

Goal 4

Modifying infrastructure, at the lowest possible cost, in response to climate change and new operating and maintenance requirements,:

• By reassessing the various types of effects that act on existing and future structures

• By devising new and improved solutions to extend the life of infrastructure without reducing Its structural reliability

• By developing high-performance, low-cost instrumentation and testing methods for transport and energy infrastructure

Goal 5

Helping to build a circular construction economy by increasing the use of renewable materials and alternative biomaterials:

·         By developing alternative materials, which are either bio-based or with a low environmental impact

·         By improving placement and construction processes to increase the reuse/recycling rate of decommissioned materials, in complete safety

·         By developing low-cost, high-performance technologies for carbon sequestration in demolition concrete and its re-use as aggregates

Goal 6

Developing new generations of transport and energy production infrastructure that take account of the energy transition:

• By addressing the issue of the links between road infrastructure, vehicle automation and new energy sources

• By deploying new digital tools at all stages of the infrastructure lifecycle for improved efficiency and sustainability

• By developing, designing or making reliable technical innovations for tomorrow's infrastructure

Contacts

• Géraldine Villain
• Claude Rospars
• Bernard Jacob