Framing Climate Change Implications for Infrastructures and Urban Systems - Climate Change and Infrastructure, Urban Systems, and Vulnerabilities - page 26

Oil and Gas

Compressor Station

Fuel Supply

Figure 6 Infrastructure systems can be
modeled as interconnected infrastructure
layers

Electric
Power

Power
Plant

Power Supply

Switching Office

Communications

End Office

Emergency
Repair
Crews Evaluation
Routes

Transportation Traffic Light

Water and
Sanitation Substation

Water

Emergency
Services

Emergency
Dispatch

Emergency
Call Center

Banking and Finance Check Processing Center

ATM

Pension
Payments

Military
Installations
Treasury Services

Government
Services

Legislation
Offices

Fuels, Lubricants

Fuel Transport,
Shipping
Fuel for Generators,
Lubricants

Figure 7 Modeling
interdependent urban sectors
as each is impacted by climate
drivers

Power for
Signaling,
Switches

Transpor-
tation

Oil

Fuels, Lubricants
Power for Pumping
Stations, Storage,
Control Systems

Fuel
Transport,
Shipping

Power for
Compressors,
Storage, Control
Systems

Power for Pump
and Lift Stations,
Control Systems

Natural
Gas

Electric
Power

Water

Telecom

F u e l f o r G e n e r a t o r s

interdependency models number in the hundreds. Being able to trace these inter-
dependencies makes it possible to answer questions in particular instances; for example,
suppose that a severe weather event or other kind of disruptions causes electric power
supplies to be interrupted. One effect would be that traffic lights would go dark. As a re-
sult, traffic congestion would increase, then highway vehicle emissions would increase,
then respiratory distress in the area would increase, then demands for public health care
services would increase, etc. (Figure 7 ) . Figure 8 summarizes current knowledge about
the importance of these interdependencies in both directions.