Integrated Guidance for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

Based on the review of over 150 existing publications and tools on climate-resilient infrastructure, the following key actions have been identified to support practitioners in integrating climate resilience into infrastructure development in the Construction phase of the infrastructure lifecycle. These actions are summarized in the table below and grouped by theme. Each action is further elaborated on in this section and references and links to key publication and tools are shared.

View all Themes and Actions

Theme 1: Innovation and Influence

7.1.1 Leverage the influence of the construction industry to promote use of materials, technologies and systems that enhance climate resilience

The construction industry has significant influence over methods of construction, and the application and prevalence of different construction materials. As such, they are active influencers and stakeholders in the development of construction codes and standards, which must be adapted and improved to foster increased resilience and sustainability. To leverage their influence, contractors must come together to align on their values and objectives. This can be done via collective associations, councils, and unions. Historically, these types of organisations have lobbied for improved working conditions and labour matters, but now they are raising their voices with respect to the built environment and climate change.

In Canada, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), not only advocates for policy changes with respect to infrastructure investment and innovation, but is now calling for greater investment in sustainable infrastructure to build Canada’s clean economy ^[1]. This publication by the CCA on climate resilience in the construction sector is a call to action to government and other key stakeholders, and include recommendations such as;

• Improve data accessibility including climate modelling;
• Incentivize the development and deployment of innovations that align with national infrastructure goals;
• Update standards and regulations as materials and approaches are tested and de-risked, so best practices are incorporated into updated standards that govern and guide how infrastructure is built in Canada; and
• Continue to contribute to the development by the Canadian Standards Association of a national resilience taxonomy to help identify investments as ‘sustainable’ ^[2].

More globally, the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (which was launched at COP21) aims for ‘a zero-emission, efficient and resilient buildings and construction sector’. ^[3]. This forum engages in key political processes to bring home the importance of decarbonizing the buildings and construction sector to achieve not only the Paris climate goals but also the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Evidence-Based Decision MakingEvidence-Based Decision Making One key outcome of this global alliance is their annual publication on “The Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction” which monitors progress of the buildings and construction sector globally towards the achievement of the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. This in turn is used to make informed decisions to policy makers on how to tackle climate change, both mitigation and adaptation, within the building and construction industry.^[4]

Establishing councils and industry organisations, where they do not already exist, is a key first step to leverage the influence of the construction industry to raise awareness on climate resilience. Where such organisations exist, Capacity BuildingCapacity Building they should evolve to promote and build capacity regarding sustainable and resilient practices, which was the case in India with the ‘Building Materials & Technologies Promotion Council.’ Refer to case study below for more details on this organisation.

In regions where quality and/or implementation of construction codes and standards are lacking, the construction industry also has an opportunity to influence the safety, resilience and sustainability of the built environment. Some international construction firms devote profits to supporting these types of activities as part of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. Other non-profit and civil society organisations focus on building capacity within the government to develop and enforce construction standards and with local contractors to improve know-how related to physically-resilient construction techniques. The World Bank’s Building Regulation for Resilience program is one example of an initiative to identify and improve areas of weakness in the regulation of the construction environment in developing countries ^[5].

7.1.2 Maximise use of digital technologies and collect real-time data during construction to improve decision-making

The operation and maintenance phase of an individual asset or portfolio of infrastructure assets depends on good quality data to make informed decisions with respect to maintenance regimes, interventions and end-of-life strategies. Evidence-Based Decision MakingEvidence-Based Decision Making To enable effective decision making during the operation and maintenance (O&M) phase, an O&M strategy should be established during the design stage and refined during the construction phase, which would allow monitoring devices to be installed during construction.

For example, for underground pipes this could include sensors or flowmeters, and for river walls this could include early warning sensors. The O&M strategy will specify the devices, data collection frequency and triggers that can be adjusted during O&M to account for climate change impacts. Installation of these devices, if the strategy is established early during the design phase, can be accounted for during construction.

Furthermore,Evidence-Based Decision MakingEvidence-Based Decision Making the use of digital technologies for the purpose of creating digital twins can also have positive impacts on making the O&M phase more efficient. Real time data, such as as-builts, trial hole data, ground conditions etc., should be collected during the construction phase and fed into the virtual model. The model can then be used for planning, making operational decisions, and enhancing emergency planning to recover quickly from disasters.

Theme 2: Construction methods and protocols

7.2.1 Update quality control indicators during construction to incorporate climate-related hazards

Controlling quality during the construction phase is essential to ensure the asset is durable, does not fail, and complies with the designer’s specifications and published standards. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) defines quality as the ‘conformance to pre-determined requirements’ which are the technical drawings and specifications issued to the contractor by the designer. Oftentimes, especially in contexts in which the enforcement of building and infrastructure regulations is inadequate or non-existent, infrastructure can be constructed with a high degree of vulnerability and low levels of durability, both of which are exacerbated over time by the effects of climate change.
Action 3.6 (Pg 106) and Toolbox D (Pg 81) of the World Bank’s A Guide for Designing Strategies for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience acknowledges that quality control and enforcement of construction codes during construction is particularly important to climate adaptation^[6].
Each construction project typically has its own Quality Control and Quality Assurance (QC/QA) documentation and procedures, which usually includes Quality Management Plans, Inspection Test Plans and Non-Conformance reporting. These are in place to ensure that what is being constructed matches required specifications and that the data which feeds into these plans is collected using a checklist-style questionnaire.
Several climate resilience checklists and tools exist which can be either directly used or adapted to be relevant to the construction phase. For example, the Toronto Green Standard Version 3.0 contains a resilience checklist for new buildings which considers power outages, flooding and extreme heat/cold^[7] Some questions in the checklist are relevant for designers; however, others can be applied to resilience in the construction phase. A more high-level checklist is included in Chapter 6.1 of ‘A Practical Guide to Climate-resilient Buildings & Communities’^[8] and Annex D.6 Table 14 of this report by the European Commission^[9].
Capacity BuildingCapacity Building Specific checklists to assess not only the quality of construction but also the consideration of climate risks have the potential to increase the physical resilience of the asset, as well as upskilling contractors on climate adaptation.

7.2.2 Ensure communication protocols exist between designer and contractor to avoid erosion of the asset’s resilience

As highlighted in Action 5.4.3 in the Design phase, the designer should select appropriate materials considering robustness to climate hazards. Although the designer should specify the material selection and physical properties in the construction specification and drawings, a clear, concise communication protocol should be in place between the contractor and designer so that resilience measures which are embedded at earlier stages are followed through as per the designer’s intention. This communication should also continue downstream to the asset owner for the O&M phase.
Common construction-phase administrative procedures that can be leveraged to allow communication related to climate resilience include:

•  Request for Information (RFI) procedures: RFI’s are a formal written procedure initiated by the contractor seeking additional information or clarification for issues related to design, construction, and other contract documents^[10]). Procedures such as RFI’s can be useful when seeking clarifications from the designer as to why a particular material or method has been selected. They therefore minimise the risk of contractors amending the design on site which may have been specifically designed with climate resilience in mind.
•  Early Contractor Involvement (ECI): Systems ThinkingSystems Thinking Involving the contractor during the design stage has been recognised to improve drawing quality, material supply, and information flow, and consequently improve construction schedule performance^[11]. This practise could also lead to more integrated design-build solutions to address a project’s resilience and sustainability goals and to ensure that resilient design measures put in place can be effectively implemented by the contractor during construction.

Digital technologies, including building information models (BIM), should also be used to enhance communication of resilient design between designers and contractors. Evidence-Based Decision MakingEvidence-Based Decision Making Visual digital tools can enhance traditional RFI procedures by providing notification of changes in real time, showing any clashes in the design, and allowing both contractor and designer to pinpoint areas of climate-resilient vulnerability. More guidance on the implementation of BIM in projects can be found in ISO 19650.

7.2.3 Consider Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)

Service Continuity and ReliabilityService Continuity and Reliability Climate resilience requires not only fostering the long-term durability, robustness and usefulness of infrastructure, but also planning for the rapid re-construction of existing, non-resilient infrastructure that is damaged or destroyed due to a disaster, including schools, hospitals and housing. This requires new, more efficient methods of construction to be used, in addition to accelerated planning and procurement processes. Although not a climate-related disaster, as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, in China a hospital was built in 10 days^[12], and in the UK, an exhibition space was converted into a temporary hospital in 9 days^[13]. These are extreme examples and were not all seamless through to operation, but the principle remains that swift turnarounds are key to societies and economies bouncing back following a crisis.

Future-Oriented PlanningFuture-Oriented PlanningInnovation of modular and easily replicable designs is key to enabling infrastructure at a fast pace that will be essential in the face of climate change. For example, Network Rail (UK) have developed a new lightweight Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) footbridge that is modular and can be constructed in a matter of days. This approach is a radical shift from their traditional heavy and costly bridge design with higher transport and installation costs^[14]. The UK Government has recognised the need and benefits of MMC, as it was a key policy in the UK Construction Playbook 2020.
Environmental Co-BenefitsEnvironmental Co-BenefitsAside from the rate of construction, there are several other benefits of MMC including, ease of dissembling and reuse, reduced construction waste, reduced operational energy and safer working conditions.

There are several sources of existing guidance and examples of MMC for homes and other replicable buildings; however, as infrastructure assets are not always easily replicable and are typically bespoke, adopting MMC in other types of infrastructure can be more challenging. One area of applicability of MMC in infrastructure is data centres, as these tend to be scalable buildings.Schneider Electric is one example of a manufacturer providing prefabricated data centres that can be deployed in a little as six weeks^[15].

Principles of MMC can also be applied to highways, bridges and buildings, where precast concrete structures can be used as a replacement for cast-in-place systems; however, there must be increased attention to the robustness and redundancy of precast systems, particularly the connections of components, compared to cast-in-place ones. In general, care should be taken when choosing to use MMC and modular designs, as they can be less robust and have shorter useful lives compared to traditional methods of construction. Inclusive EngagementInclusive EngagementTherefore, the contractor alongside the designer, should identify the limitations of MMC and the appropriate usages. There is an opportunity here to increase collaboration with academia and researchers working in the field of MMC and upskill a new generation of construction workers.

More information on MMC can be found in the following resources;

• Modular Construction: From projects to products
• Modular Building Institute webpage
• Introduction to prefabrication video, Autodesk
• Inside the Centre of Excellence for Modern Construction, Laing O’Rourke (video)

Theme 3: Resilience during Construction

7.3.1 Prepare for extreme weather conditions during construction

While infrastructure design should account for longer term climate change impacts, adverse events can occur in the relatively short timescale of a construction project, and it is the contractor’s responsibility to address these short-term hazards in the construction plan. Extreme climate events such as floods, storms and heat waves can impact the time taken to construct infrastructure as well have knock on effects to the safety of the workforce and damage to materials and structures. As such, measures should be taken by the contractor to be able to weather climate events during construction with minimal disruption.

The first logical step is awareness of what the climate risks are at the site location, supported by weather data. Understanding weather data and preparing for extreme events should be integrated into the construction risk assessment and/or method statements. For example, having a better understanding of site levels and rainfall data can inform the decision as to what level above ground materials should be stockpiled, or better understanding wind speeds can change the type of crane used that day. Site emergency procedures and site health, safety and welfare should also support these procedures to further build in resilience into the construction process.

Tools available such as Weather Cockpit ® can be used to integrate weather pattens into construction planning and procedures^[16]. The Weather Services for Building Project Managers service was used for the Forth Road Bridge Constructors (FCBC), where wind and rainfall analysis was used in the pre-construction phase, and weather dependent construction tasks were planned up to 14 days ahead to influence the hiring of plant and equipment^[17].

Additional benefits arising from better weather data collection is the minimisation of contract claims arising from extreme weather events and minimizing the possibility of accidents on site.

7.3.2 Map out and diversify the construction supply chain

In 2021, several construction projects were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Suez Canal container ship blockage. Construction material prices rocketed, and lead times were lengthened. Adding climate change and extreme weather events to this, it’s evident that the construction industry needs to better understand its supply chain and build in greater diversification and resilience.

Preparing a list of vendors and suppliers located in diverse geographic locations is recommended, along with keeping on top of lead times on materials. Environmental Co-BenefitsEnvironmental Co-BenefitsFrom an emissions and logistics perspective, adjusting the supply chain so that SMEs and those in close proximity are prioritised is preferred. However, for more global supply chains, understanding what climate events are happening in various parts of the world will allow for better estimation of lead times, project programmes and cost.

According to Deloitte’s Africa Construction Trends Report, research in the South African market shows building resilient supply chains has the potential to improve project delivery time by up to 30% and reduce project cost by up to 15-20%^[18]. Simultaneously, a 2021 US governmental report published by the White House includes a recommendation to the President to “enact the proposed Supply Chain Resilience Program at the Department of Commerce, to monitor, analyze, and forecast supply chain vulnerabilities and partner with industry, labor, and other stakeholders to strengthen resilience” ^[19].

Theme 4: Capacity Building

7.4.1 Improve contractors’ understanding of climate risks and opportunities to increase the resilience and sustainability of infrastructure

In addition to climate risks increasing the complexity of considerations in the construction of infrastructure, new materials and technologies, including construction automation, introduce other complexities that require new knowledge and skills in the construction workforce. While there may be a perception that automation of construction tasks will result in fewer job opportunities, Capacity BuildingCapacity Buildingthese industry changes also present an opportunity to build the capacity of the construction workforce on the importance of climate mitigation and adaptation and to diversify skillsets. Figure 3 in a report by the Autodesk Foundation and Deloitte^[20] shows a hierarchy of skills which will be required alongside construction automation.

Page 53 of a report by the Climate Change Committee (UK) emphasises that engineering, procurement and construction organisations and training institutions need to be engaged and consulted on new training courses for the required upskilling. This task has been given to the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and the Government’s new Green Jobs Taskforce^[21].

Operational training of the construction workforce to be able to deal with climate disasters should also be considered. This can take place in the form of scenario training, which was identified^[22] following the events on September 11^th 2001 in New York. Scenario training is typically standard practise in the construction industry, with fire evacuation, fuel spill, terror attack etc. drills. These should be extended to include climate-related events such as flooding, mud slides, fires etc to improve contractors’ understanding of climate risks. Guidance on preparing an emergency preparedness plan includes the following resources.

• Guideline for Emergency Planning for the Australian Commercial Construction Industry^[23]
• United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration webpage

Furthermore, climate change is and will increasingly be affecting those in low- to middle-income countries more severely, and it is in these countries that development is occurring most rapidly. Therefore, there is an especially urgent need to build the capacity of the construction sector in these countries, both in terms of construction firms and material suppliers, to not only improve construction safety, quality and longevity but also support local economic development. Capacity BuildingCapacity BuildingIn situations where international contractors lead the construction of infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries, these projects should include local partnerships and meaningful skills-building and knowledge-transfer activities with local contractors.

Extra resources for capacity building in construction are included below:

• FAO Learning Materials (Practical tools and videos)
• Developing disaster risk reduction skills among informal construction workers in Nepal report, see pages 627-646.^[24]

7.4.2 Leverage communities to enhance the resilience and sustainability of infrastructure construction while limiting the introduction of unintended vulnerabilities

Oftentimes, particularly on large infrastructure projects or in post-disaster reconstruction, international contractors are brought in to lead the design and construction of new infrastructure assets and systems in low-income countries. Well-intentioned NGO’s and other civil society organizations may also sponsor and lead the design and construction of community-scale infrastructure projects such as schools or WASH systems. While some of these projects have been successful, there are unfortunately many instances in which the resulting infrastructure was not appropriate (and therefore not used or used incorrectly), introduced unintended negative consequences, or did not maintain its intended longevity and useful life. As a result, much-needed infrastructure investment opportunities were squandered.

The reasons for these shortcomings are myriad, including lack of technical knowledge related to locally appropriate materials and systems, lack of consideration of realistic long-term maintenance strategies, or lack of community endorsement. According to Pocock, et al., 2016^[25] some examples of failure due to lack of community consideration include:

• Non-profit, Water for People, states that approximately 50,000 rural water points are broken, and U.S. $215-360 million of investment wasted because of poor programming and careless implementation;
• A project by Engineers Without Borders in Rwanda failed because of “their lack of involvement and training of the community during the initial implementation”;
• The NGO World Vision drilled several wells in a region of Senegal, but the cleaner water tasted bad, and people went back to drinking contaminated water;
• A Save the Children Fund project in Malawi lacked training on the importance of hygiene and sanitation practices.

Inclusive EngagementInclusive EngagementIn order to avoid these shortcomings and to ensure that the infrastructure that is built is both resilient and sustainable over time, it is essential to involve community stakeholders meaningfully in planning, design and construction. Care must be taken on how communities are involved, as community participation on its own does not guarantee project success^[26] and may introduce unintended vulnerabilities. For example, community construction of school infrastructure may be appropriate in remote situations in which indigenous materials are used for construction; however, in situations where modern materials such as concrete or brick are used, it is important that those who are responsible for construction are well-trained and qualified to perform this work. Communities can more effectively play a role in the quality assurance of construction projects built by hired contractors, as they have a direct incentive to carefully monitor construction quality and physical resilience.

Inclusive engagement in infrastructure development and implementation will not only create a project that is less likely to fail but also create a sense of community ownership, ensuring a more successful subsequent O&M phase. Equity and Social Co-BenefitsEquity and Social Co-BenefitsAn additional co-benefit of community engagement is the likely resulting integration of more local materials and products (e.g. timber, bricks, bamboo) into infrastructure projects helping to support local employment and economic development.

Additional guidance on effective community-based construction include:

• Chapter IV of Climate and Disaster Resilience – The Role for Community-Driven Development ^[27]
• Improving Socially Sustainable Design and Construction in Developing Countries ^[28]
• Chapters 2 and 3 of Assessing local building cultures for resilience & development^[29]