Assessing the Vulnerability of the Telecommunications Network to Impacts from Climate Change: Focus on New England

Abstract

Climate change will not only alter the character of New England’s distinctive seasons, it will push the boundaries of severe weather in ways that will challenge current approaches in infrastructure siting and design. Wireless communications infrastructure is a highly integrated part of our daily lives, and it is critical for emergency communications in the event of natural disaster. A GIS analysis of the location of existing infrastructure and events potentially exacerbated by climate change, including flooding, hurricane inundation, and sea level rise shows that increased severity of events will impact more components of the existing infrastructure, including sites that serve highly populated areas. This analysis is limited by the availability of publically accessible, high resolution GIS data. It is critical that wireless site owners and developers consider future impacts of climate change in their siting decisions. It is also critical that the federal and state governments acquire and maintain the GIS data to make thorough analysis possible.