Abstract
An analysis of global statistics shows a substantial increase in flood damage over the past few decades. Moreover, it is expected that flood risk will continue to rise due to the combined effect of increasing numbers of people and economic assets in risk-prone areas and the effects of climate change. In order to mitigate the impact of natural hazards on European economies and societies, improved risk assessment, and management needs to be pursued. With the recent transition to a more risk-based approach in European flood management policy, flood analysis models have become an important part of flood risk management (FRM). In this context, free and open-source (FOSS) geospatial models provide better and more complete information to stakeholders regarding their compliance with the Flood Directive (2007/60/EC) for effective and collaborative FRM. A geospatial model is an essential tool to address the European challenge for comprehensive and sustainable FRM because it allows for the use of integrated social and economic quantitative risk outcomes in a spatio-temporal domain. Moreover, a FOSS model can support governance processes using an interactive, transparent and collaborative approach, providing a meaningful experience that both promotes learning and generates knowledge through a process of guided discovery regarding flood risk management. This article aims to organize the available knowledge and characteristics of the methods available to give operational recommendations and principles that can support authorities, local entities, and the stakeholders involved in decision-making with regard to flood risk management in their compliance with the Floods Directive (2007/60/EC).
Highlights
This is especially important given the limited financial resources available in most cases. Whilst these requirements are welcome in light of the scientific achievements and recent understanding of risk, they charge stakeholders with new duties and challenges that, are they not always able to handle, but for which scientific and technical development is still probably insufficient to provide the necessary knowledge to support stakeholders’ flood risk management decisions. This paper presents both current advances and limitations of the available models from the perspective of the authors
Before we can adequately frame the challenges of flood risk management (FRM), we first give a summary of the key concepts of flood risk analysis and management
The paper explored the need to describe and organize actual knowledge in a workable procedure harmonized for a pan-European approach while providing room for including necessary regional adjustments
Summary
The observed increase of flood damage across Europe [1] has focused, since 2005, the attention of scientists, policy-makers, media, and society in general on the field of risk assessment and management. FRM should become an important and comprehensive process to adapt to a constantly changing environment due to, for instance, climate change, population growth and economic change This approach of managing risk takes a more holistic view, by explicitly covering all aspects (e.g., prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, recovery) of the disaster management cycle [18], instead of focusing mainly on flood prevention. Whilst these requirements are welcome in light of the scientific achievements and recent understanding of risk, they charge stakeholders with new duties and challenges that, are they not always able to handle, but for which scientific and technical development is still probably insufficient to provide the necessary knowledge to support stakeholders’ flood risk management decisions Given this context, this paper presents both current advances and limitations of the available models from the perspective of the authors (focusing mainly on consequence estimation in flood risk analysis).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
