Improving the Design and Performance of Northern Transportation Infrastructure

由于气候变暖或土地利用变化而导致的冻土融化可能会对机场跑道、铁路路基、高速公路路基和河流交叉口产生稳定性和适用性问题。扩大北方运输基础设施系统将需要改进设计、建造和维修业务。需要开展研究，开发与气候变化对北方交通基础设施（指在永久冻土上建造的基础设施）的影响有关的创新技术和减缓战略。拟议的研究计划将提高公路填土和地基的结构稳定性的方法。虽然本研究的重点是公路，但研究成果也将适用于其他交通基础设施系统。与我的高素质人员一起，我们将通过以下方式进行研究：1）现场仪器和监测; 2）实验室测试; 3）数值建模。将开发专门的实验室测试和数值建模技术，并用于解释监测到的现场行为或提供对未来现场行为的见解。两个目前可用的仪表测试部分提供了一个现场性能数据库，并允许验证新的数值模拟技术。拟议的研究将制定适应战略，以应对气候变化对加拿大北方交通的影响。这些战略是为经济和社会发展提供可靠、成本效益高的服务所必需的。该计划将加强加拿大在北极的存在。加拿大北方是许多原住民的家园，拥有丰富的矿产、石油和水电资源。妥善建造和维护公路、铁路、机场和河流过境点是向北方运送货物和服务以及向南方运输矿产品的必要条件。这项研究将帮助加拿大在气候变化的背景下开发和管理永久冻土地区的基础设施。它将产生训练有素的专业人员，反过来，他们将提供寒冷地区工程所需的专业知识。

Thawing permafrost, resulting either from climate warming or land use changes, can produce stability and serviceability issues for airport runways, railway beds, highway embankments, and river crossings. Expanding northern transportation infrastructure systems will require improved design, construction and maintenance operations. Research is needed to develop innovative technologies and mitigation strategies related to the effects of climate change on northern transportation infrastructure (which refers to infrastructure built on permafrost).****The proposed research program will advance methods of improving the structural stability of highway fills and foundations. Although the focus of this research is on highways, the research outcomes will also be applicable to other transportation infrastructure systems. Together with my highly qualified personnel, we will carry out the research through: 1) field instrumentation and monitoring; 2) laboratory testing; and 3) numerical modeling. Specialized laboratory testing and numerical modeling techniques will be developed and used to explain monitored field behaviour or provide insights into future field behaviour. Two currently-available instrumented test sections provide a database of field performance and allow validation of new numerical modeling techniques.****The proposed research will develop adaptation strategies that will respond to impacts of climate change on transportation in northern Canada. These strategies are needed to provide reliable, cost-effective services for economic and social development. The program will strengthen Canada's Arctic presence. Northern Canada is home to many First Nations people and is rich in mineral, petrocarbon and hydroelectric resources. Properly constructed and maintained highways, railways, airports, and river crossings are necessary for delivery of goods and services to the North and transportation of mineral products to the South. This research will help Canada develop and manage infrastructure in permafrost regions in the context of a changing climate. It will produce highly trained professionals who, in turn, will provide needed expertise in cold regions engineering.******