Ä¢¹½´«Ã½

This study evaluates the impact of saltwater intrusion (SWI) due to various sea level rise (SLR) scenarios on the corrosion of reinforcement in foundations of nearly 137,000 residential buildings in low-lying areas surrounding Mobile Bay, AL. The effects of saltwater intrusion due to Sea Level Rise (SLR) on the foundations of buildings and other civil infrastructure is poorly understood. Such damages may not be detected in a timely fashion nor be insured, leading to significant and unanticipated expenses for building owners. 

The key takeaways in this study include:

• Most vulnerable buildings were located near the shoreline, as anticipated. 
• Under an extreme SLR scenario, the annual expected repair costs for the foundations of the studied homes may reach as much as US$90 million by 2100.
• Early inspections are essential to repair the foundation before damage propagates and leads to costly building damage and repairs.
• The building code might consider increasing the minimum required concrete cover for reinforcement or adding an impervious layer to protect the reinforcement in the foundation from exposure to saltwater intrusion.