Building resilience
Adapting infrastructure for climate change
When engineers build more-resilient infrastructure, they’re building communities that can better withstand the effects of climate change.
By creating innovations that can assess the impact of wind on buildings, bridges, and structures, engineers are ensuring the durability of community infrastructure in the face of extreme weather events. By designing new fire-resistant infrastructure, they’re creating more defensible spaces around homes to help prevent the spread of fires, particularly for areas that are more susceptible to wildfires. And to help defend against rising sea levels and storm surges, engineers are building sea walls and other protective structures including buildings able to withstand high winds and flooding. Through forward-thinking design, engineers are helping communities adapt for the future with more resilient infrastructure to mitigate the effects of climate change and improve public safety outcomes related to extreme weather.
A few examples of how engineers are adapting for climate change and building tomorrows:
UBC Okanagan Engineering leads research to explore new net zero home
Engineers design permanent flood protection for Calgary
As permafrost thaws, experts learn to build on shifting ground