SPR-696: Preliminary Study of Climate Adaptation for the Statewide ...

Finally, if participants think of additional information that would be helpful to this process, theywill be given an opportunity to e-mail Cambridge Systematics for a designated period of timefollowing the focus groups, most likely one to two weeks.2C: COMMUNICATIONS AND RESPONSE PLANNING FOR ADAPTATIONSTRATEGIESThe purpose of this research effort is to help ADOT become more resilient, flexible, andresponsive to climate change effects. To date, we have completed the first two steps of ourresearch process. Step 1 was a review of the current literature relating to climate change effectson the transportation system, tailored to Arizona’s climate region. Our second step, in whichmany of you participated, included the administration of an on-line survey questionnaire. Wesent this questionnaire to ADOT staff and received 300 survey responses. The questionnaireresponses provided us with valuable baseline information about ADOT staff’s knowledge aboutclimate change and their perspectives on climate change impacts in relation to their job roles.These interviews are the third step in our process, and we hope to gain more in-depth knowledgeabout ADOT as an organization and the relationships between departments. Additionally, wewould like to learn more about your roles at ADOT and your perspectives on climate change andhow this research effort might be helpful to you.We would like to cover three main topics in this interview: Identify ADOT’s organizational chart and communicating climate adaptation internallyand externally; Explore the layered plan of adaptation responses, which include planning,design/engineering and operations/maintenance strategies. Brainstorm existing and potential tools, data, guidance, or other resources related toextreme weather or climate change that individuals wished they had to help informdecision making activities.General Overview Questions – Warm Up (10 minutes)1. In the on-line survey questionnaire which you filled out, we asked respondents abouttheir perspectives on climate change. Do you think that climate change is affecting thedesert Southwest? If so, how?2. How important is it for ADOT to prepare for future impacts of climate change?Communicating Climate Adaptation Within and Outside of ADOT (20 minutes)Let’s walk through the organizational chart and responsibilities assigned within ADOT.1. How receptive is ADOT staff with issues of risk management and extreme weathervulnerability. Can this be extended to think about climate impacts? How?2. Which departments typically manage different aspects of planning, engineering, design,and decision making? Can you give an example of an interdisciplinary action or policythat was successful? How did it achieve success?3. What type of leadership is useful in thinking through risk management within ADOT?99