A central element of the transformation is therefore the creation of novel and more sustainable systems by coupling infrastructures that have previously operated independently of each other. Based on the findings of the previous project "TRAFIS", it becomes clear that knowledge deficits particularly concern how innovative and promising innovations can be supported in leaving niches and becoming more broadly anchored, in such a way that resource and climate protection as well as resilience are advanced more effectively. This is directly followed by the question of how to assess the evaluation of sustainability impacts in the course of such a "mainstreaming".
Against this background, the project work encompasses the following activities:
clarification of the main terms and concepts relating to the mainstreaming of innovations
systematisation of infrastructure couplings and their concise evaluation with regard to their suitability for mainstreaming
analysis and systematisation of political framework conditions for the mainstreaming of infrastructure innovations from a federal and local political perspective (top-down, bottom-up)
evaluating synergies and conflicts between the framework conditions and drawing up recommendations for action at the federal policy level
further development of a broadly applicable tool for assessing the sustainability of, above all, coupled innovative infrastructure solutions at municipal level with the aim of anchoring sustainability assessments in municipal planning and decision-making processes
testing approaches to mainstream innovative infrastructure solutions in cooperation with selected case studies in continuation of an established cooperation with the relevant local and regional actors on site.
Ecologic Institute is responsible for activities 1, 3, 4 and 6 of the above list.
Olfert, A.; Schiller, G.; Brunnow, B.; Walther, J.; Hirschnitz-Garbers, M.; Hölscher, K.; Wittmayer, J. (2020). Prozessbegleitende Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung als Werkzeug für ein nachhaltigkeitsorientiertes Infrastrukturmanagement. InfrastrukturRecht 17 (2020) 1, p. 17-20
sustainability transformation, coupled infrastructures, mainstreaming, innovation, climate protection, resilience, resource conservation
literature review, expert interviews, expert workshops, multi-criteria assessment, transdisciplinare/transformative research
ProjectTransformation to Climate Resilient and Resource-conserving Infrastructure (TRAFIS)
The TRAFIS project investigates the development of climate resilient and resource-conserving infrastructures through the lens of transition and action research. The project focuses primarily on interlinked infrastructures. Infrastructure and infrastructure systems... Read more