UK-based flood science specialist JBA Risk Management and Oxford University have entered a partnership to research the risks from climate extremes on infrastructure networks worldwide.
The Oxford Programme for Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (OPSIS), led by Jim Hall, Professor of Climate and Environmental Risks and a Commissioner on the UK's National Infrastructure Commission, will be provided with full access to JBA’s global flood maps and global event sets. In collaboration with JBA’s team of experts, the Oxford team will generate new insights into present day and future infrastructure risk. This will help vulnerable countries enhance the resilience of their infrastructure networks and improve disaster preparedness, thereby protecting people against the social and economic shocks of climate change.
The tie-up is the latest in a long line of collaborations between JBA and Oxford University. Ongoing work includes a research project looking at event footprints, led by Dr Raghav Pant, which was funded by the UK Data and Analytics Facility for National Infrastructure (DAFNI). Another was a study to quantify the impact of present and future climate extremes on the national water supply network in Jamaica. In addition, JBA has previously collaborated with Oxford on the Infrastructure Transitions Research Consortium and a high profile study on the influence of climate change on extreme flood events in the UK, as well as supporting Prof Louise Slater's prestigious 7-year Future Leaders Fellowship to provide an holistic insight to changing flood risk.
We have a strong track record of working closely with academia and I am excited that we can support and collaborate with OPSIS in their important work understanding the resilience of key infrastructure networks and how that will be impacted by climate change.
Adapting the nation’s infrastructure to climate change requires precise information on where flooding could occur in Britain. JBA’s flood data is enabling us to improve our climate change risk assessment for critical infrastructure.
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About the Oxford Programme for Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (OPSIS)
OPSIS is a dynamic and innovative research team in the University of Oxford with important links to government, industry and the international academic community. The Programme has unique capability in infrastructure systems analysis, modelling and decision making; with particular expertise in the analysis of climate-related risks to infrastructure networks.
OPSIS is frequently called upon by government and industry to use their innovative methodologies to address real-world engineering and policy questions. Their research has been widely taken up in Britain by the National Infrastructure Commission, and around the world by the World Bank, UNOPS, Global Center on Adaptation and several national governments.
Further information can be found at OPSIS and ITRC.
About the Environmental Change Institute
The Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford was established in 1991. Its aim is to organise and promote interdisciplinary research on the nature, causes and impact of environmental change and to contribute to the development of management strategies for coping with future environmental change.
About the University of Oxford
Oxford University has been placed number 1 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the eighth year running, and number 3 in the QS World Rankings 2024. At the heart of this success are the twin-pillars of our ground-breaking research and innovation and our distinctive educational offer.
Oxford is world-famous for research and teaching excellence and home to some of the most talented people from across the globe. Our work helps the lives of millions, solving real-world problems through a huge network of partnerships and collaborations. The breadth and interdisciplinary nature of our research alongside our personalised approach to teaching sparks imaginative and inventive insights and solutions.
Through its research commercialisation arm, Oxford University Innovation, Oxford is the highest university patent filer in the UK and is ranked first in the UK for university spinouts, having created more than 200 new companies since 1988. Over a third of these companies have been created in the past three years. The university is a catalyst for prosperity in Oxfordshire and the United Kingdom, contributing £15.7 billion to the UK economy in 2018/19, and supports more than 28,000 full time jobs.