From Climate Uncertainty to Engineering Clarity

The Djibouti Regional Economic Corridor (DREC) is a vital trade artery connecting landlocked Ethiopia to global markets. But like many transport lifelines across the Horn of Africa, it’s increasingly threatened by climate hazards—from flash floods and landslides to scorching heat that weakens pavements and warps infrastructure performance.

When tasked with assessing these risks and identifying climate adaptation strategies for the corridor, Grid Engineers brought in INFRARRED—our proprietary tool designed to turn complex climate risk into actionable engineering intelligence. Here’s how:

Vulnerability Assessment of Critical Assets

Using engineering-based algorithms, INFRARRED evaluated the sensitivity of bridges, culverts, road embankments, and pavement segments to flooding, heat, and landslides—providing a high-resolution map of weak points along the corridor.

Network-Wide Economic Loss Modeling

– Disruption doesn’t stop at the damage site. INFRARRED modeled indirect impacts, such as:
– Increased vehicle operating costs from detours
– Freight delays and contractual penalties
– Inventory storage and handling costs
– Revenue loss across the logistics chain

This revealed hidden losses that traditional risk assessments often miss.

Strategic Investment Planning

The tool helped craft three investment packages tailored to different policy and budget priorities:
– A comprehensive package targeting full-spectrum climate risks
– A low-cost nature-based option with rapid, scalable returns
– A budget-optimized package focused on high-impact assets
– All packages underwent cost-benefit analysis using INFRARRED’s economic engine.

Impact That Matters

– Without intervention, climate-induced disruptions could lead to losses exceeding $45 million by 2050.
– The proposed adaptation measures—flood controls, heat-resilient pavements, erosion protection—could help avert over $10 million in damages by mid-century.
– By integrating nature-based and grey infrastructure solutions, the strategy aligns climate resilience with sustainable development.

A Scalable Model for Corridor Resilience

The DREC study shows what’s possible when modern engineering tools meet urgent climate challenges. INFRARRED didn’t just assess risk—it helped design a roadmap for resilient transport infrastructure in one of the world’s most climate-sensitive regions.