Improving the Design and Performance of Northern Transportation Infrastructure

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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.******