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Distinguished Lecture Series: Fall 2006
University of Virginia Center for
Transportation Studies |
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November 27 at 3:30-4:45 pm
UVA Rotunda Building, Lower
West Oval Room |
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Potential Effects of Climate Change
on Transportation Infrastructure:
Re-thinking the Design Process |
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| DR. MICHAEL D. MEYER P.E. |
Abstract
Dr. Meyer will discuss the potential effects of climate change on how we design transportation infrastructure, with particular attention to roadway design. This presentation will be based on a resource paper that Dr. Meyer recently prepared for a Transportation Research Board panel on Climate Change and Transportation. The particular focus will be on the design parameters currently used to design roads and how changes in environmental conditions might very well affect such design. For example, one might hypothesize that changes in temperature, temperature ranges (freeze-thaw cycles), precipitation, wind speeds, storm surges, and wave action might have important influences on many different aspects of infrastructure design, ranging from foundations, drainage, materials specifications, and location engineering. Particular emphasis will be given to the implications on transportation infrastructure of more extreme weather events. The presentation will suggest actions that take into account the uncertainties associates with possible changes in environmental conditions, and the ability of the engineering profession to include these actions into professional practice.
Biography of Speaker
Dr. Michael D. Meyer is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and former Chair of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. From 1983 to 1988, Dr. Meyer was Director of Transportation Planning and Development for Massachusetts where he was responsible for statewide planning, project development, traffic engineering, and transportation research. Prior to this, he was a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at M.I.T. Dr. Meyer is currently Director of the Georgia Transportation Institute.
Dr. Meyer has written over 160 technical articles and has authored or co-authored numerous texts on transportation planning and policy, including a college textbook for McGraw Hill entitled Urban Transportation Planning: A Decision Oriented Approach. He is an active member of numerous professional organizations, and has chaired professional committees relating to transportation planning, land use/urban design, public transportation, environmental impact analysis, transportation policy, and intermodal transportation. He was recently appointed Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board.
Dr. Meyer is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2006 Wilbur Smith Distinguished Transportation Educator Award from the Institute of Transportation Engineers, 2000 Theodore M. Matson Memorial Award in recognition of outstanding contributions in the field of transportation engineering; the 1995 Pyke Johnson Award of the Transportation Research Board for best paper in planning and administration delivered at the TRB Annual Meeting; and the 1988 Harland Bartholomew Award of the American Society of Civil Engineers for contribution to the enhancement of the role of the civil engineer in urban planning and development.
Dr. Meyer has a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, an M.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from M.I.T. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Georgia.
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| Dr. Lester Hoel introduced Dr. Michael D. Meyer who spoke on the effect of climate change on transportation |
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| Dr. Nicholas Garber, Dr. Meyer, and Dr. Hoel pose following the lecture |
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| Faculty members pose with Dr. Meyer in the West Oval Room of the Rotunda |
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