Skip to main content

Research into weather impact on transport

Finland's VTT Technical Research Centre is heading a research project into the harmful impact of weather phenomena on transport in the EU. The EWENT project will set a precedent as no previous studies have been conducted on this scale. It will investigate evidence that heavy rainfall in particular impacts on European transport as with climate change, the occurrence of extreme weather is expected to increase. Weather is a major factor in traffic flow and safety as sudden storms and flash floods can paralyse
May 17, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Finland’s 814 VTT Technical Research Centre is heading a research project into the harmful impact of weather phenomena on transport in the EU.

The EWENT project will set a precedent as no previous studies have been conducted on this scale. It will investigate evidence that heavy rainfall in particular impacts on European transport as with climate change, the occurrence of extreme weather is expected to increase. Weather is a major factor in traffic flow and safety as sudden storms and flash floods can paralyse an entire transport system and cause serious financial and human losses.

More information on these phenomena and their impacts is needed in order to minimise or prevent damage caused. The international research project Extreme Weather Impacts on European Networks of Transport (EWENT) headed by VTT is exploring the impacts of extreme weather phenomena on various forms of transport. The aim is to determine which weather phenomena are the most harmful for transport and what the costs of their impacts might be in the EU.

The research is focusing on atmospheric phenomena, which are more severe than normal and which may pose a danger to traffic and transportation in particular.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Parking provision dictates commuters’ modal choice
    March 16, 2016
    Researchers from two American Universities have found the provision of parking spaces can encourage automobile use and increase traffic congestion. It is well understood that increased automobile use is linked to congestion, environmental degradation and negative health and safety impacts. Trials of smart parking technology has shown a reduction in circulating traffic (looking for parking) can ease congestion and that the cost of parking can influence commuters’ modal choice. Now, researchers at the univers
  • Umovity: Revolutionising mobility through innovative technologies
    December 1, 2023
    United under the brand Umovity, PTV Group and Econolite join forces and introduce their new combined Mobility Tech Suite. The companies’ CEO Christian U. Haas explains the details
  • Continued impact of TEN-T programme
    November 29, 2012
    The Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency (TEN-T EA) launched for the second year running a campaign aimed at showcasing successfully implemented TEN-T projects. The “ten (more) out of TEN” campaign highlights ten additional TEN-T projects whose successful implementation has yielded regional, national and European added value and which are helping to complete the TEN-T network.
  • Mobility itself is moving says cubic
    June 9, 2015
    Cubic’s Chris Bax looks at the challenges and benefits of implementing transport as a service. Imagine paying for travel in exactly the same way you buy your phone service. For example, you would pay a set amount in exchange for a monthly travel package covering up to 100km of free taxi journeys in your home city (including a guaranteed 15 minute pickup) and public transport usage within a 1,500km radius of your home. Not only would this option be cheaper than owning and maintaining your own car, you would