A University of Alberta evacuation expert is teaming up with the town of Canmore and Roam Transit to design communities that are safer from wildfires.
Stephen Wong, assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and his team will identify vulnerabilities in evacuation routes, roadway widths and access to critical infrastructure using LiDAR mapping, GIS analysis and on-the-ground surveys — all aimed at developing more resilient and complete streets to enhance Canmore’s emergency response capabilities.
“Today’s wildfire resilience is about how we plan, build and connect communities, not just how we fight fires,” says Wong, noting that such an approach is a priority for the project’s funders, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation.
“By integrating transportation and land use planning, we can design neighbourhoods that help people evacuate safely and recover more quickly.”
Wong has also helped Edmonton develop evacuation procedures based on the concept of “resilience hubs” — community shelters that provide resources and assistance during climate-related disasters and disruptions.
Using Canmore as a model, this project’s findings will offer community strategies and policy recommendations for Alberta’s most vulnerable municipalities, says Wong.
“We need to redesign and retrofit where possible, prepare effective disaster response, complement long-term sustainability goals and promote everyday, livable environments in a changing climate.”