TRACK 1, DAY 2
Building Climate-Resilient Highway Drainage Systems in Northern Ontario: Challenges and Lessons Learned
Yolanda Fang and Amin Owrangi, AtkinsRéalis Inc.
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 3:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. | Hall A
ABSTRACT
Climate change has led to global warming, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels. The increased frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events pose unique challenges to transportation systems across the country.
These extreme events often result in increased surface runoff, higher flood risks, degraded water quality, and additional stress on infrastructure, especially during the spring freshet. Therefore, policy makers and planners are seeking mitigation and adaptation measures to sustain climate resiliency. Various approaches have been adopted in drainage design to build resilience in both existing vulnerable assets and new development.
This presentation will focus on the stormwater management design and considerations for Northern Ontario. The largely rural and remote areas, along with extensive wetlands and sensitive river systems within Northern Ontario, present numerous challenges during both the field investigation and design phase. Site-specific climate analysis needs to be performed, and the drainage design should incorporate Low Impact Development facilities within the road corridor to meet regulatory requirements.
Overall, the climate-resilient drainage system reduces flood risks, improves water quality, and provides additional ecological benefits. Additionally, active stakeholder engagement with indigenous communities is crucial to ensure the project’s success and timely delivery.
These findings advance the understanding of sustainable drainage system development and shed light on the adaptation measures of major drainage infrastructure in rural areas impacted by climate change.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Yolanda Fang, AtkinsRéalis Inc.
Yolanda Fang is a Water Resources Engineer and Canadian Technical Authority Lead for Hydrology/Hydraulics at AtkinsRéalis. She specializes in drainage and stormwater management with a solid technical background in hydrologic and hydraulic modelling. Her area of expertise includes urban drainage system design, Low Impact Development practices, stormwater master planning, and flood mapping.
Amin Owrangi, AtkinsRéalis Inc.
Dr. Amin Owrangi is a seasoned Water Resources Engineer with over 15 years of experience leading multidisciplinary infrastructure projects across Canada.
As Team Lead at AtkinsRéalis in Toronto, he specializes in the planning, design, and delivery of municipal, transportation, and environmental initiatives, with a strong focus on resilience planning, drainage systems, and sustainable infrastructure development.
Amin holds a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Western Ontario, where he developed expertise in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, stormwater management, and climate adaptation strategies. His career spans a diverse portfolio of projects, including flood risk assessments, integrated water resource management, and infrastructure planning for urban growth and climate resilience.