Ecological footprint of the Rhone-Alp Regional Express Network
In 2011, SYSTRA was commissioned by the Rhone-Alp Region to manage a multi-criteria analysis to define the ecological footprint of its regional express network (road and rail).
SYSTRA developed a tool to establish an environmental profile of all of the traffic using the regional express network over 4 individual years to be able to anticipate how it would change based on operational factors. This information was used for decision-making purposes by the Transport Authority.
To complete this study, the Sustainable Development Engineering Department had to liaise with many local stakeholders (the Rhone-Alp regional authorities, the network operator – SNCF and rolling stock manufacturers) over a number of months on the wide range of issues covered by this multi-criteria analysis.
SYSTRA’s role
As project manager, SYSTRA was responsible for:
- Defining a methodology and designing a model for calculating the ecological footprint
- Developing a tool to calculate the ecological footprint of the regional express network
- Producing ecological footprint reports for all regional express network traffic for 2002, 2005, 2009 and 2010
- Compiling a socio-economic study and an overview of ecological footprints for each change scenario
- Producing a strategic analysis to define the key directions and measures to take to reduce the network’s impact on the environment
- Managing interfaces with SNCF, the operator of the Rhone-Alp regional express network
- Training the Transport Authority’s team to use the tool.
- This multi-criteria analysis covered green gas emissions, energy consumption and emissions of local atmospheric pollutants.