port planning and views on climate change david h. bierling and billy l. edge center for ports and...
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Port Planning and Port Planning and Views On Climate ChangeViews On Climate Change
David H. Bierling and Billy L. EdgeDavid H. Bierling and Billy L. Edge
Center for Ports and WaterwaysCenter for Ports and Waterwaysandand
Sustainable Coastal Margins ProgramSustainable Coastal Margins Program
Texas A&M University SystemTexas A&M University System
USDOT Workshop on Impacts of Global Climate Change USDOT Workshop on Impacts of Global Climate Change on Hydraulics, Hydrology and Transportationon Hydraulics, Hydrology and Transportation
Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.March 7, 2005March 7, 2005
Our Central Question…Our Central Question…
Is planning for climate change Is planning for climate change on the radar screen of the U.S. on the radar screen of the U.S. seaport industry??seaport industry??
OperationsOperations
Facility DesignFacility Design
MaintenanceMaintenance
Our “Quick and Dirty” Evaluation…Our “Quick and Dirty” Evaluation…
A simple, one-page questionnaire A simple, one-page questionnaire distributed to 18 “contiguous”-U.S. portsdistributed to 18 “contiguous”-U.S. ports
East, West and Gulf Coasts, East, West and Gulf Coasts, Great Lakes, Rivers & Tributaries.Great Lakes, Rivers & Tributaries.
Eleven questions about port planning horizons and Eleven questions about port planning horizons and opinions on climate change.opinions on climate change.
February 19 – March 4, 2005February 19 – March 4, 2005
Responses from 12 ports Responses from 12 ports representing these coastal regions.representing these coastal regions.
Cover Cover Letter and Letter and
TopicsTopics
Questionnaire RespondentsQuestionnaire Respondents
Port of Indiana - Burns HarborPort of Indiana - Burns HarborPort of Milwaukee Port of Milwaukee Duluth Seaway Port AuthorityDuluth Seaway Port AuthorityPort of MemphisPort of MemphisPort of BaltimorePort of BaltimoreNorth Carolina State Ports AuthorityNorth Carolina State Ports AuthorityPort of New OrleansPort of New OrleansPort of Palacios, TXPort of Palacios, TXPort of Port Mansfield, TXPort of Port Mansfield, TXPort of Long BeachPort of Long BeachPort of OaklandPort of OaklandPort of TacomaPort of Tacoma
Are ports considering potential Are ports considering potential impacts of climate change in design impacts of climate change in design
standards or operations??standards or operations??
11 of 12 ports responding to the 11 of 12 ports responding to the questionnaire indicated “No”.questionnaire indicated “No”.
Are ports considering potential Are ports considering potential impacts of climate change in design impacts of climate change in design
standards or operations??standards or operations??
1 of the 12 ports indicated “Yes”.1 of the 12 ports indicated “Yes”.– Commercial fishing and recreational Commercial fishing and recreational
boating port on Gulf Coast.boating port on Gulf Coast.– Areas of consideration:Areas of consideration:
Shift in markets and population.Shift in markets and population.Maintenance needs.Maintenance needs.Impact on community and Impact on community and environment.environment.
All Responding Ports
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral Agree
Strongly Agree
0
1
2
3
4
5
Historical information about hydraulic or weather events isimportant in planning for our facilities or operations
““Express your opinions about…”Express your opinions about…”
All Responding Ports
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
0
1
2
3
4
5
"Well-accepted" guidance (e.g. FEMA Flood Hazard Data,USACE Design Manuals) is important in planning for our
facilities or operations.
““Express your opinions about…”Express your opinions about…”
All Responding Ports
Disagree
Neutral
AgreeStrongly Agree
0
1
2
3
4
5
If there were global changes in water level or frequency ofextreme weather events in the next 50 years, our port's
location would be affected.
““Express your opinions about…”Express your opinions about…”
All Responding Ports
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
0
1
2
3
4
5
Addressing potential impacts of climate change is somethingthat needs to be addressed for the port community in
general.
““Express your opinions about…”Express your opinions about…”
All Responding Ports
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
0
1
2
3
4
5
Addressing potential impacts of climate change is somethingthat needs to be addressed for the port community in
general.
All Responding Ports
Disagree
Neutral
AgreeStrongly Agree
0
1
2
3
4
5
If there were global changes in water level or frequency ofextreme weather events in the next 50 years, our port's
location would be affected.
All Responding Ports
Disagree
Neutral
Agree
Strongly Agree
0
1
2
3
4
5
"Well-accepted" guidance (e.g. FEMA Flood Hazard Data,USACE Design Manuals) is important in planning for our
facilities or operations.
All Responding Ports
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral Agree
Strongly Agree
0
1
2
3
4
5
Historical information about hydraulic or weather events isimportant in planning for our facilities or operations
Port Region Average Response Value
GreatLakes
GulfCoast East
Coast
River & Tributary
WestCoast
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
Historical information about hydraulic or weather events isimportant in planning for our facilities or operations
Port Region Average Response Value
GreatLakes
GulfCoast
EastCoast
River & Tributary West
Coast
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
"Well-accepted" guidance (e.g. FEMA Flood Hazard Data,USACE Design Manuals) is important in planning for our
facilities or operations.
Port Region Average Response Value
GreatLakes Gulf
Coast
EastCoast
River & Tributary West
Coast
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
If there were global changes in water level or frequency ofextreme weather events in the next 50 years, our port's
location would be affected.
Port Region Average Response Value
GreatLakes
GulfCoast East
Coast
River & Tributary
WestCoast
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
Historical information about hydraulic or weather events isimportant in planning for our facilities or operations
Port Region Average Response Value
GreatLakes
GulfCoast
EastCoast
River & Tributary West
Coast
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
"Well-accepted" guidance (e.g. FEMA Flood Hazard Data,USACE Design Manuals) is important in planning for our
facilities or operations.
Port Region Average Response Value
GreatLakes Gulf
Coast
EastCoast
River & Tributary West
Coast
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
If there were global changes in water level or frequency ofextreme weather events in the next 50 years, our port's
location would be affected.
Port Region Average Response Value
GreatLakes
GulfCoast East
Coast
River & Tributary
WestCoast
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
Addressing potential impacts of climate change is somethingthat needs to be addressed for the port community in general.
Port interest in climate change Port interest in climate change discussions…discussions…
11 of 12 ports indicated an interest in 11 of 12 ports indicated an interest in seeing the results of the workshop.seeing the results of the workshop.
7 of 12 ports indicated an interest in 7 of 12 ports indicated an interest in participating in future dialogues.participating in future dialogues.
Questionnaire responses Questionnaire responses suggest…suggest…
Port planning horizons range between Port planning horizons range between 5 and 20 years, with consistent averages 5 and 20 years, with consistent averages across facility types of ~12 years.across facility types of ~12 years.
Almost no consideration of climate change in Almost no consideration of climate change in formalized port design or planning processes.formalized port design or planning processes.
Variable use of historical information and Variable use of historical information and “well-accepted” guidance in port design and “well-accepted” guidance in port design and planning processes.planning processes.
Questionnaire responses Questionnaire responses suggest…suggest…
Regional differences in port Regional differences in port concerns about potential climate concerns about potential climate change effects.change effects.– Great Lakes, East Coast, and Gulf Great Lakes, East Coast, and Gulf
Coast ports seem more concerned Coast ports seem more concerned than West Coast or Rivers & than West Coast or Rivers & Tributaries ports.Tributaries ports.
LimitationsLimitations
Small distribution and response populations.Small distribution and response populations.– No more than three responses per region.No more than three responses per region.– Inability to make strong inferences for the U.S. Inability to make strong inferences for the U.S.
port industry based on these very limited data.port industry based on these very limited data.– Results may not be generalizeable to port Results may not be generalizeable to port
populations across regions or categories.populations across regions or categories.
Further questions…Further questions…
Can/should industry and community Can/should industry and community planning and decision horizons account for planning and decision horizons account for “long-term” climate change?“long-term” climate change?
Historical and “accepted” information: Historical and “accepted” information: – What is its role in design, maintenance, and What is its role in design, maintenance, and
operations of coastal infrastructures?operations of coastal infrastructures?– Can retrospective data account for future Can retrospective data account for future
change?change?
Further questions…Further questions…
Is climate change an infrastructure issue, Is climate change an infrastructure issue, a market issue, or both?a market issue, or both?
How do perspectives and influences of How do perspectives and influences of insurers and consultants affect those of insurers and consultants affect those of coastal infrastructure operators?coastal infrastructure operators?