Analysis of the decision-making process in the road maintenance sector with respect to climate adaptation

Abstract

Road networks play a crucial role in economic and sustainable growth, but they face challenges such as traffic loads, drainage, and secondary road works. Climate change poses risks, such as structural damage and vulnerability to extreme weather. The Dutch government has emphasized the importance of climate adaptation in road maintenance policies, but asset managers face difficulties in transitioning to climate-adaptive practices due to aging infrastructure, increasing traffic, and limited resources. Effective asset management is essential for optimizing asset utilization, enhancing quality, minimizing costs, adapting to climate change, and increasing asset lifespan. The study aimed to examine the decision-making process of asset managers in road maintenance and their efforts to enhance climate adaptability, focusing on stakeholders involved in decision-making and criteria influencing their decisions. Challenges include budget constraints, limited knowledge of climate adaptation within organizations, data availability for informed decision-making, and the influence of internal policies on driving climate adaptation efforts within road maintenance authorities.