At the current time, it largely remains to be seen how the work of the road operation services will be influenced by climate change, it is the objective of the research project to assess the interconnection between climate change and road operation services. The focus lies on ascertaining the effects of climate change on the road operation service, for which, as a first step, the general effect of the weather on the work of the road operation services is analysed, as a great number of the work of the road operation service is influenced by the weather. Building on extensive climate projections, changes due to climate change can then be ascertained. Additionally, an assessment takes place as to what extent the emission of greenhouse gases can be reduced through the optimisation of the road operation service. The climate projection shows only slight changes of air temperature until 2030. Only in further periods is a distinct increase to be expected. Precipitation will increase in winter and decrease in summer. Regional differences of these developments are not strongly pronounced. For the winter service, the stagnating temperatures with a simultaneous increase in precipitation until 2030 lead to an increase of working hours, as well as the necessary amounts of salt by around 10%. Afterwards, a distinct reduction of working hours, as well as the necessary amounts of salt by an average of 16% until 2050 and by 40% until 2080 is to be expected compared to 1991 to 2010. The costs due to frost damage to road surfaces will hardly change until 2030. Only afterwards will there be a significant decrease of frost damage. The costs for roadside mowing will also not significantly change until 2030, only in the following periods is an increase to be expected. Pollutant emissions, which are caused by the road operation service, come to a total of under 2‰ of overall emissions of traffic. Measures which contribute to a reduction of pollutant emissions, are, however, despite the low amount, still to be recommended, as other advantages are connected with them. (Author/publisher)
Abstract