FAIR FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE ASSET MANAGEMENT AND INVESTMENT IN RENOVATION, ADAPTATION AND MAINTENANCE
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The overall objective of the FAIR project is to reduce flood risk across the North Sea Region by demonstrating climate change adaptation solutions to improve the performance of flood protection infrastructure.
FAIR demonstrates improved approaches for cost-effective upgrading and maintenance, optimising investments across national-system-asset levels, as well as applying adaptive, innovative technical designs. FAIR builds upon IVB results (ia MARE, SAWA) and state-of-the-art EU research from its partners (Deltares, TUHH, Sayers). FAIR guides the full-scale implementation of reinforcement, upgrade and maintenance programmes of dykes, sluices, dams, flood gates and pumping stations at target sites in UK, B, NL, D, DK, SE worth >1Bn/y until 2020. A transnational approach is vital to accelerate learning, as there is no budget or time for ‘trial and error’. FAIR gathers the major asset owners in the North Sea Region (eg RWS, LSBG, MOW), the first international collaboration of its kind. The project website is here Contact The study is ongoing - for further information contact Paul Sayers (paul.sayers@sayersandpartners.co.uk). |
Collectively EU Member States invest an average of €3 billion per year on flood protection infrastructure. But a combination of climate and socio-economic change is increasing the annual average damage caused by flooding. Complex and difficult decisions will need to be taken in response to these threats, especially in coastal regions, as rising sea levels challenge the sustainability of existing policies and plans. An improved approach to the planning, design and management of new and existing flood protection assets will be central to addressing this challenge.
Significant new ideas and methods are being developed to ensure best value asset management options are identified for both existing and new infrastructure. However, their alignment with socioeconomic policies and supporting governance systems is often neglected.
The FAIR project brings together flood protection asset owners, operating authorities and researchers from across the North Sea Region (NSR) to share the policy, practice and emerging science of asset management and identifies four priority policy recommendations that respond to these challenges:
1. Break-free of the silo: Align multiple planning processes within, and beyond, flood management;
2. Mind the gap: Link strategic planning and operational processes through a tactical handshake;
3. Prepare for change: Develop flexible strategies and asset designs that can be adapted to meet changing requirements in future;
4. Make space for innovation: Embrace and manage risk to support the development of innovative solutions.
Outputs
The Policy Brief, including more discuss and examples, can be downloaded here
