Extreme weather events risk disrupting access to electricity, transport and water. Cities must strengthen the resilience of utilities, service providers and critical infrastructure against external shocks, and prepare them for changes in resource availability.

Innovation examples

  • Beautiful maple(momiji) leaves with train running at Yamatsuriyama Park in Fukushima prefecture, Japan Beautiful maple(momiji) leaves with train running at Yamatsuriyama Park in Fukushima prefecture, Japan

    Adapting Japanese trains to extreme heat and floods

    Extreme heat can cause railroad tracks to buckle, as the steel expands. This puts stress on the ties, ballasts and rail anchors that fix the…
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    Adapting Japanese trains to extreme heat and floods

    Beautiful maple(momiji) leaves with train running at Yamatsuriyama Park in Fukushima prefecture, Japan
    Getty Images /© Jirobkk

    Extreme heat can cause railroad tracks to buckle, as the steel expands. This puts stress on the ties, ballasts and rail anchors that fix the tracks to the ground. Japan is a global leader in railway infrastructure. In response to climate warming, Japan Railways has raised the standard maximum performance temperature of its railroads from 60°C to 65°C. Japan Railway has also developed maintenance vehicles able to detect openings in joints caused by heat stress.[1] Meanwhile, after recent typhoons, East Japan Railway experienced considerable infrastructure damage, with millions of US dollars worth of rail cars and bullet trains having to be replaced. Steps have now been taken to adapt their infrastructure to climate change. They include lifting transformer substations and holding yards for shinkansen bullet trains by 10 meters to avoid future flood damage.[2]

  • Walking crowd and mesh communication network concept. Internet of Things. Smart city. Information Communication Technology. - stock photo Walking crowd and mesh communication network concept. Internet of Things. Smart city. Information Communication Technology. - stock photo

    Fog computing technologies for water management in Spain

    Potable water is a precious resource in southeastern Spain. The city of València has deployed innovative IoT technologies to manage water…
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    Fog computing technologies for water management in Spain

    Walking crowd and mesh communication network concept. Internet of Things. Smart city. Information Communication Technology. - stock photo
    Getty Images /© metamorworks

    Potable water is a precious resource in southeastern Spain. The city of València has deployed innovative IoT technologies to manage water resources more efficiently. Fog computing is a type of distributed computing that connects a data cloud service to a number of “peripheral devices” which can amass large amounts of raw data via for instance sensors. By processing data where it is generated or used rather than within a central cloud, bandwidth and wireless network infrastructure pressure can be reduced. It also enables operations to continue during network outages. LivingFog is an open source fog computing platform that enables cities to work with smart city solutions. València has used the technology to deploy more than 420,000 smart household water meters that periodically report readings to data centers through wireless networking. EMIVASA, a public–private water utility company, uses the transferred data to detect water leaks or other incidents causing abnormal water usage. This can lead to considerable water resource savings. Through a prototype platform called LivingFog this technology has now been integrated with a so-called LoRaWan software to enable the detection of leaks within minutes of their occurring instead of days so as to optimize water consumption.[1]

Proven technologies  

  • High voltage tower and lightning strikes High voltage tower and lightning strikes

    AI-based utility risk management

    Climate change poses a heightened risk to vital infrastructure such as electricity grids. Extremes of heat or cold may overwhelm capacity and…
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    AI-based utility risk management

    Urbint
    High voltage tower and lightning strikes
    Getty Images /© privetik

    Climate change poses a heightened risk to vital infrastructure such as electricity grids. Extremes of heat or cold may overwhelm capacity and damage equipment. Urbint is a leading AI platform for predicting and stopping threats to critical infrastructure and workers – climate change threats included. Examples include the analysis of wind speed and duration to advise power companies. The company’s risk management software helps customers identify and prioritize safety and reliability threats, by leveraging relevant data and AI. The product is used by many of the largest energy and infrastructure companies in North America.

    • Contracting type: Service
    • Technology level: High
    • Country of origin: United States
    • Availability: United States
  • Maintaining smart home using smart digital touch screen device Maintaining smart home using smart digital touch screen device

    Monitoring and management platform for utilities

    Mobi-Water manufactures digital monitoring systems for a range of customers, including water utilities and factories. The system provides…
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    Monitoring and management platform for utilities

    Mobi-Water
    Maintaining smart home using smart digital touch screen device
    Getty Images /© Jasmin Merdan

    Mobi-Water manufactures digital monitoring systems for a range of customers, including water utilities and factories. The system provides real-time data on water availability and consumption provided by tank level sensors and smart meters. Tracking is through an app, dashboard or SMS. By gathering data to generate analytics, water usage can be predicted and water shortages mitigated.

    • Contracting type: Service
    • Technology level: Medium
    • Country of origin: Kenya
    • Availability: Kenya
  • Businessman working on laptop and looking at desktop computer monitor. Male professional sitting at his office desk and working on new software program Businessman working on laptop and looking at desktop computer monitor. Male professional sitting at his office desk and working on new software program

    Remote urban water monitoring system

    Develiot offers tools for use by water utilities to decrease water loss through the digitalization of water supply networks and tracking of water…
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    Remote urban water monitoring system

    Develiot
    Businessman working on laptop and looking at desktop computer monitor. Male professional sitting at his office desk and working on new software program
    Getty Images /© alvarez

    Develiot offers tools for use by water utilities to decrease water loss through the digitalization of water supply networks and tracking of water consumption. By tracking watercourse parameters – such as water level, water velocity, water temperature and environmental data – the company supports utilities and cities in taking proactive decisions in response to floods or drought. Relevant data can be captured remotely and in real-time through pulse meters and water monitoring stations.

    • Contracting type: Service
    • Technology level: High
    • Country of origin: Bulgaria
    • Availability: Bulgaria
  • a free online tool that shows whether a property has been flooded during any major event a free online tool that shows whether a property has been flooded during any major event

    Flood and fire risk assessments at property level

    First Street Foundation is a non-profit research and technology group. They offer both publicly available and paid for risk information related…
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    Flood and fire risk assessments at property level

    First Street Foundation
    a free online tool that shows whether a property has been flooded during any major event
    Photo: © First Street Foundation

    First Street Foundation is a non-profit research and technology group. They offer both publicly available and paid for risk information related to floods and fires. The data is backed by peer reviewed models building on open science from decades of published research. One of the tools on offer is Flood Factor. This is a free online tool that shows whether a property has been flooded during any major event in the past, is currently at risk, and how that risk changes over time. It can also help estimate damage costs associated with flooding or highlight infrastructure and community risk. First Street has a wide user-base, including power and utility companies, insurance companies, construction and engineering firms.

    • Contracting type: Service/Free
    • Technology level: High
    • Country of origin: United States
    • Availability: United States
  • Aerial view of blue photovoltaic solar panels mounted on backyard ground for producing clean ecological electricity. Production of renewable energy concept. Aerial view of blue photovoltaic solar panels mounted on backyard ground for producing clean ecological electricity. Production of renewable energy concept.

    Distributed renewables

    Solar Home Systems, micro-grids and mini-grids are all examples of distributed renewables. Such renewables are increasingly part of a global…
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    Distributed renewables

    Nayo Tropical Technology Ltd
    Aerial view of blue photovoltaic solar panels mounted on backyard ground for producing clean ecological electricity. Production of renewable energy concept.
    Getty Images /© Bilanol

    Solar Home Systems, micro-grids and mini-grids are all examples of distributed renewables. Such renewables are increasingly part of a global trend toward resilient power systems. Nayo Tropical Technology is a cleantech company and a mini-grid supplier providing renewable energy-distributed generation projects, including hybrid and solar mini-grids in and around Nigeria.

    • Contracting type: For sale
    • Technology level: High
    • Country of origin: Nigeria
    • Availability: Nigeria
  • modular, decentralized water and wastewater treatment solutions modular, decentralized water and wastewater treatment solutions

    Decentralized water treatment and storage systems

    Resiliency in water infrastructure can be enhanced through decentralized water treatment and storage systems. Treating water at point of use can…
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    Decentralized water treatment and storage systems

    Fluence Corporation
    modular, decentralized water and wastewater treatment solutions
    Photo: © Fluence Corporation LCC

    Resiliency in water infrastructure can be enhanced through decentralized water treatment and storage systems. Treating water at point of use can make water treatment more fit for purpose and effective compared to treating all water to a potable standard. Also decentralized water storage could be used for river flow management, irrigation or in emergency situations. Fluence is a company that provides modular, decentralized water and wastewater treatment solutions for remote locations. Water treatment systems are built into steel shipping containers. Transportation and site preparation is easy and installation quick. The technology has been developed for use in resorts and recreation sites. But similar solutions could potentially be used in emergency situations. For example, storms and hurricanes where central water supplies may be damaged or contaminated.

    • Contracting type: For sale
    • Technology level: Medium
    • Country of origin: United States
    • Availability: Worldwide
  • Vector of highly detailed world map with natural disaster icons and gradient background - The url of the reference file is : http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world.html - 1 layer of data used for the detailed outline of the land Vector of highly detailed world map with natural disaster icons and gradient background - The url of the reference file is : http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world.html - 1 layer of data used for the detailed outline of the land

    Climate risk analytics

    Jupiter provides a broad range of climate risk analytics products for both public and private sector organizations. They are intended for…
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    5. Cities / Infrastructure and services / Proven technologies

    Climate risk analytics

    Jupiter
    Vector of highly detailed world map with natural disaster icons and gradient background - The url of the reference file is : http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world.html - 1 layer of data used for the detailed outline of the land
    Getty Images /© Laurence Dutton

    Jupiter provides a broad range of climate risk analytics products for both public and private sector organizations. They are intended for activities such as infrastructure resilience engineering. Solutions assess the impact of flooding, wildfires, extreme heat, drought, wind and precipitation through spatial resolutions down to street level. Projections are delivered via geospatial web-based applications, direct data transfer or reports and cover time horizons of up to 80 years. Jupiter’s climate risk analysis is applied in several sectors including water. Climate insights help identify investments needed for pipelines and storage facilities. The products also apply to the energy sector in relation to electricity generation, transmission and distribution systems.

    • Contracting type: Service
    • Technology level: High
    • Country of origin: United States
    • Availability: Worldwide
  • Removing burst asbestos water pipes and replacing with modern plastic tubes Removing burst asbestos water pipes and replacing with modern plastic tubes

    No-dig pipe replacements

    Proper maintenance of water pipes is key to avoiding leaks and loss of non-revenue water. NO-DIG has developed a hydrostatic pipe bursting…
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    No-dig pipe replacements

    NO-DIG
    Removing burst asbestos water pipes and replacing with modern plastic tubes
    Getty Images /© Daniela White Images

    Proper maintenance of water pipes is key to avoiding leaks and loss of non-revenue water. NO-DIG has developed a hydrostatic pipe bursting machinery for underground pipe replacement. The machine replaces the existing pipeline by first pushing a solid steel rod through the pipe via two excavation points. Once the rod has been inserted along the length of pipe between the two excavation points, a bursting head is lowered into one end and connected to the steel rod. A replacement pipe made of polyethylene is then connected to the bursting head. Using static force, the bursting head and new pipe are pulled through the existing pipe, thereby displacing it. This process eliminates the need to dig up the ground along the entire pipe system.

    • Contracting type: Service
    • Technology level: High
    • Country of origin: Denmark
    • Availability: Worldwide

Frontier technologies  

  • Aerial View Of Illuminated Cityscape By River At Night - stock photo Aerial View Of Illuminated Cityscape By River At Night - stock photo

    Smart grids

    Storm-related power outages are happening more often. More fluctuations in supply and grid system instability mean grids need to be smarter.…
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    5. Cities / Infrastructure and services / Frontier technologies

    Smart grids

    Sunverge
    Aerial View Of Illuminated Cityscape By River At Night - stock photo
    Getty Images /© Andy A. Widmer / EyeEm

    Storm-related power outages are happening more often. More fluctuations in supply and grid system instability mean grids need to be smarter. Smart grids and meters can enable for example automatic adaptation to varying demand and power flows. This would support a more balanced network during both normal and emergency situations such as extreme weather events. A smart grid might also enable more dispersed generation sources and local energy storage. This would strengthen overall system resilience by making reliable back-up power available during power outages. Sunverge provides an energy storage system and software. This automatically collects and stores power from renewable energy sources during the day for peak-time use or when the grid goes down. The company also enables utilities to tie distributed energy resource networks into virtual power plants. During storm alerts the battery systems can then jointly be directed to charge up.

    • Contracting type: Service
    • Technology level: High
    • Country of origin: United States
    • Availability: Worldwide
  • A crack runs across a cement floor A crack runs across a cement floor

    Reduced thermal conductivity and temperature of asphalt pavements

    Extreme temperatures can cause asphalt cracking, rutting or even melting. Asphalt pavement temperature depends among other things on the…
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    Reduced thermal conductivity and temperature of asphalt pavements

    PLATIO
    A crack runs across a cement floor
    Getty Images /© rtyree1

    Extreme temperatures can cause asphalt cracking, rutting or even melting. Asphalt pavement temperature depends among other things on the material’s thermal properties. Adaptation measures to hot temperatures include using cool paving materials with low thermal conductivity or high specific heat capacity, or increasing thermal resistance through thick pavement layer design. Researchers in Malaysia have reviewed the state-of-art in different cooling strategies for asphalt pavements. Approaches such as air void content and using low-density materials were found to potentially have a considerable positive effect on the thermal properties of asphalt. Open void structures and exposed surfaces allow air currents to flow through the pavement and reduce heat pressure on the pavement. However, for smaller surfaces more advanced approaches such as photovoltaic pavements and water-filled or air-filled pipes placed within pavements could reduce surface temperature by up to 5.5oC.[1] A few companies, including start-up PLATIO, are now producing solar pavements. They are an expensive option but could have both climate mitigation and adaptation benefits.

    • Contracting type: For sale
    • Technology level: High
    • Country of origin: Hungary
    • Availability: Worldwide
  • High Angle View Of People Walking On Footpath During Sunny Day - stock photo High Angle View Of People Walking On Footpath During Sunny Day - stock photo

    Mesh messaging: emergency communication during internet blackouts

    Mesh-based apps help people connect to nearby contacts without internet access in the event of an internet blackout. This could happen for…
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    Mesh messaging: emergency communication during internet blackouts

    Briar
    High Angle View Of People Walking On Footpath During Sunny Day - stock photo
    Getty Images /© Elena Pemkute / EyeEm

    Mesh-based apps help people connect to nearby contacts without internet access in the event of an internet blackout. This could happen for example if internet infrastructure is affected by floods. Briar, Bridgefy and Signal Offline are three such mesh-based apps. Mesh messaging, also called “off-the-grid-messaging,” enables data to be transmitted between devices over a short range (typically 50–100 meters) without needing an internet connection. By using a device’s Bluetooth or Wifi as a transport medium, the message travels between devices until it reaches its intended recipient. Briar is one such peer-to-peer technology which enables mobile devices to connect directly to each other via WiFi without any intermediate access points. Messages are encrypted for high-level privacy, which is why the app was originally intended for activists and journalists. However, the technology has potential for use in emergency situations as well.

    • Contracting type: Free
    • Technology level: High
    • Country of origin: United Kingdom
    • Availability: Worldwide

Horizon technologies  

  • Rov (remotely operated vehicles),are very useful in the exploration of the bottom of the sea without the need to send divers and the risks that this can lead. Rov (remotely operated vehicles),are very useful in the exploration of the bottom of the sea without the need to send divers and the risks that this can lead.

    Underwater robots for off-shore wind farms

    Rising sea levels and increased storm frequencies pose risks for offshore wind farms and turbine efficiency. This is due to a reliance on…
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    Underwater robots for off-shore wind farms

    Danish Technical University
    Rov (remotely operated vehicles),are very useful in the exploration of the bottom of the sea without the need to send divers and the risks that this can lead.
    Getty Images /© Humberto Ramirez

    Rising sea levels and increased storm frequencies pose risks for offshore wind farms and turbine efficiency. This is due to a reliance on structural stability within the seabed. Through the use of sub-sea robots for turbine platforms, underwater monitoring can help inspect and detect reparation needs. Researchers at the Danish Technical University (DTU) have worked on a modular robot for use in offshore wind-turbine platforms. The robot can be used for inspection and also carry out underwater repair and maintenance on foundations and rigs. Because the robot is modular, each individual part of the robot can work alone or in unison with other parts. It can also be permanently installed on an underwater foundation where it can monitor and operate irrespective of weather conditions.

    • Contracting type: N/A
    • Technology level: High
    • Country of origin: Denmark
    • Availability: N/A
  • Solar panels and wind turbine on a boat in San Francisco Bay with city view behind. San Francisco, California Solar panels and wind turbine on a boat in San Francisco Bay with city view behind. San Francisco, California

    Typhoon-proof wind turbines

    A Japanese startup, Challenergy, has developed typhoon-proof wind turbines. These are uniquely shaped in order to withstand powerful winds and…
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    5. Cities / Infrastructure and services / Horizon technologies

    Typhoon-proof wind turbines

    Challenergy
    Solar panels and wind turbine on a boat in San Francisco Bay with city view behind. San Francisco, California
    Getty Images /© Jason Jones Travel Photography

    A Japanese startup, Challenergy, has developed typhoon-proof wind turbines. These are uniquely shaped in order to withstand powerful winds and abrupt changes in wind direction. Built as a vertical axis wind turbine, turbines have three vertical cylinders instead of a propeller. The turbines are intended for use in remote areas, such as remote Philippine islands, that often lack sufficient power infrastructure while also being exposed to extreme weather events.

    • Contracting type: N/A
    • Technology level: High
    • Country of origin: Japan
    • Availability: N/A

Damages to infrastructure and services far reaching

Urban infrastructure and the systems that provide transportation, electricity and water are becoming increasingly interdependent. Growing trends such as electric vehicles link together the key services of energy and transport. As power outages…
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Damages to infrastructure and services far reaching

Urban infrastructure and the systems that provide transportation, electricity and water are becoming increasingly interdependent. Growing trends such as electric vehicles link together the key services of energy and transport. As power outages due to extreme weather events increase, such networks may represent new vulnerabilities to climate risk. Higher complexity, automated systems and smart urban solutions can not only alleviate but also enhance climate impact and cause a multiplier effect. Impacts from a damaged bridge, dam or power cable can extend far beyond immediately affected areas to cause widespread regional disruption. For extractive and manufacturing industries operating through global supply chains, the damage can extend even further. OECD modelling of potential impacts of a major flood in Paris found that infrastructure would suffer 30 to 55 percent of any direct damage caused by a flood. Moreover, disruption to transport and electricity, rather than the direct damage from the flood itself, would cause up to 85 percent of business losses.[38]
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Protecting energy assets from hazards

Disrupted energy supply-risk can be reduced through strengthening buildings’ resilience to weather events such as extreme heat.[39] In the United States, a 2020 heatwave caused power shortages, as…
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Protecting energy assets from hazards

Disrupted energy supply-risk can be reduced through strengthening buildings’ resilience to weather events such as extreme heat.[39] In the United States, a 2020 heatwave caused power shortages, as electricity demand soared when homes and businesses turned on air conditioning for heat relief.[40] However, beyond focusing on buildings themselves, adapting larger energy networks and infrastructure – such as energy generation, transmission and distribution systems – is fast becoming a priority in many countries. In The Bahamas, 2,000 distribution poles and nearly 300 transmission poles had to be replaced after Hurricane Matthew in 2012.[41] Vulnerability to such energy supply disruptions can be reduced through decentralized energy generation, for example through micro- or mini-grids. This is especially the case for underserved or isolated populations.[42] Other ways the energy sector is adapting include increasing transmission tower height, underground cabling of distribution lines, designing wind turbines able to withstand high wind speeds, using stainless steel to reduce corrosion from water damage and installing heat-resistant solar panels. For regions heavily reliant on imported energy such as small island states, future energy security could be enhanced through a bi-directional charging mechanism for e-vehicles that allows the vehicles to double as a power supply source.
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The road to resilient road and water networks

Devastation from extreme weather events is increasing the pressure on national road and water networks. Cyclone Idai in 2019 damaged an estimated 20 percent of Mozambique's national road network and destroyed 20 bridges.…
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The road to resilient road and water networks

Devastation from extreme weather events is increasing the pressure on national road and water networks. Cyclone Idai in 2019 damaged an estimated 20 percent of Mozambique's national road network and destroyed 20 bridges.[43] This is not unique to the continent. Climate-related transport and energy infrastructure damage is projected to reach from 10s to 100s of billions of US dollars under moderate-to-high emissions scenarios.[44] Elevating bridges and roads, improving drainage capacity and introducing vegetation and permeable surfaces can improve resilience to water-related hazards to an extent. Meanwhile, trees can protect roads against high temperatures that would otherwise cause asphalt to expand and eventually crack or even melt. Maintenance is a critical issue. Drains and riverbeds require systematic desilting, and trees must be regularly pruned to avoid them falling and blocking roads during extreme weather events. Other options for heat management include applying reflective materials and coatings to roads and pavements, selecting more heat-resistant asphalt binders[45] and preparing the steel for rail tracks to withstand hotter temperatures. Once damage has occurred, drone use in disaster management can help authorities and first responders map out where the damage is by quickly reconnoitering larger areas of the road network.

Urban infrastructure and services must also adapt to changes in water availability. It is projected that approximately 350 million more people in urban areas will be exposed to water scarcity due to severe droughts at a 1.5°C warming.[46] By building bigger water storage tanks, as well as the reservoirs or infrastructure needed for aquifer storage and recovery, exposed cities and regions such as the Emirate of Abu Dhabi are preparing for seasonal or extended drought.[47][48] Other cities are applying sensors and internet of things (IoT) technologies to increase the efficiency of water supply networks. For more information on water conservation technologies as well as flood defense systems, see chapter on Water and coastal regions.
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