Decision support system for managing flooding risk induced by levee breaches

Abstract

ABSTRACT Managing the levee system of a river network is an essential aspect to reduce the flood risk and protect communities and urbanised areas. Too many times, the viewpoint of the managing institution in charge of the restoration of river levees is of an emergency type so that the restoration works are conducted only after flood occurrence, without the consideration for a complete and necessary overview of priority criteria at a basin scale. The present work aims to develop a basin-scale methodology to analyse the current state of the Ombrone Pistoiese River (Italy) levees, so as to identify targeted solutions for breakage prevention. By applying a vulnerability index, producing maps of flooded areas and counting the exposed elements induced by levees breaks, this study wants to provide a decision support procedure able to define a priority scale of interventions.