Adaptation and Resilience
Adaptation and resilience are vital for transport systems. They ensure connectivity, reliability, safety and flexibility in the face of increasing uncertainties and disruptions such as climate change, pandemics, geopolitical tensions, energy crisis, technological shocks and rapid social changes. Drawing on and integrating engineering, data-science, economics, behavioural and policy research, our work under this theme explores adaptive, resilient and future-proof solutions for transport systems, including system design & optimisation, infrastructure design and maintenance, and emergency response & recovery.
Our Methods and Approach
We draw on a broad mix of methodological and disciplinary expertise:
• Climate impact and economic risks for transport infrastructure
• Life cycle assessment and road network vulnerability analysis
• Behavioural modelling in emergency scenarios
• Modelling and optimising operations for disaster relief
Pillars of Inquiry and Impact
• Climate-resilient infrastructure: Understanding how roads, rail and mobility services can withstand adverse weather and other climate stresses, examining extreme weather effects on mobility, and identifying design and operational strategies that keep systems functioning under pressure.
• Anticipatory planning and risk assessment: Developing tools and models that help authorities identify vulnerability, assess cascading risks and plan long-term adaptation pathways for different transport modes.
• Real-time operations and system robustness: Investigating how digital technologies, sensors and decision-support systems can improve the ability of transport networks (road and rail) to respond dynamically to disruptions and recovery quickly.
• Behavioural responses and adaptive travel patterns: Studying how individuals and organisations adjust travel choices during disruption, and how to support transport policy interventions and traffic management strategies that support more adaptable and resilient forms of mobility.
Current Research Projects
News
Contact us
Email: k.j.butterworth@leeds.ac.uk