Projects / Programmes
Development of a unified method for estimation of benefits of constructional and non-constructional measures for flood risk reduction
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.01.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Civil engineering |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T220 |
Technological sciences |
Civil engineering, hydraulic engineering, offshore technology, soil mechanics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.01 |
Engineering and Technology |
Civil engineering |
floods, food risk, cost-benefit analysis, flood protection measures, flood losses
Researchers (16)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
The subject of the proposed research project is the problem of floods and the consequences of their occurrence on the population, environment, cultural heritage and economic activities. Floods are the most frequent among natural disasters worldwide and cannot be prevented, however we can reduce their consequences by implementing flood protection measures. During the planning of the protection measures, the main objective is to reduce the damage caused by floods and to increase the actual benefit of the implemented measures, which is estimated as the difference between the expected damage before the implementation of the measure and the expected damage after the implementation. Measures can be physical with the building of actual construction objects, or organizational with the realization of non-construction measures. The first objective of the study is to develop a unified method based on the method presented by IzVRS (2014) for assessment of the benefits of construction and non-construction flood risk mitigation measures as a support for decision-making in the selection of measures that will represent the best cost-benefit relationship. The second objective of the project is to develop the application based on a geographic information system through which the location of the data in the space will be included in the proposed method. Additionally, the information on flood damage for events after the year 2012 will be included in the developed unified method for which the renewed statistical analyses appropriate for procession of large data sets will be performed. As part of the project the usefulness and applicability of the method and application will be tested for three locations in Slovenia. The main objectives of the proposed project are development of the unified method and the user-friendly application, which will enable the estimation and comparison of the planned flood prevention measures benefits and the selection of the most appropriate one, taking into account the best cost-benefit relationship. The method and the application will enable the cost-benefit estimation for both construction and non-construction measures for flood risk damage reduction by taking into consideration the material and non-material damage.
Significance for science
From the project proposal it is evident that foreseen research and its results (methodology and application for estimation of benefits of constructional and non-constructional measures to reduce flood risks) are up-to-date from scientific and professional point of view. The project links researchers from different fields of science: e.g. economics, hydrology, civil engineering, sociology, spatial planning and GIS developers.
The project will carry out an up-to-date review of the developed and used methodologies for estimation of the benefits of flood protection measures. A new example of the unified method will be prepared (application of the methodology, developed in the scope of the project). The computer application (software) developed in the scope of the project will assist the experts in decision-making on choosing the most appropriate measures to reduce flood risk. A new proposed unified method for estimation of the benefits of constructional and non-constructional measures will also provide support for future research work of researchers, who are focused on estimation of the benefits of constructional and non-constructional flood protection measures.
The approach, which will be used in the development of the computer application, will base on spatial data and GIS. This also offers the possibility of transferring the applied methodology to other areas of benefit estimation with the necessary modifications.
From the review of existing literature, it is evident that in this scientific area an additional interdisciplinary research to determine the damages and benefits, especially in the case of damage (losses) and benefits in non-constructional measures, will be needed. The project fully supports the program and work of the UNESCO Chair and will also play a major role in the development of science and the profession on a global scale.
Significance for the country
An estimation of the benefits of a particular constructional or non-constructional measure will be possible for all four damage sectors: human health, environment, cultural heritage and economy. With simplifying and shortening of the procedures based on the economic part of investment documentation in the field of public finances, also the procedures for realization of the measures (constructional or non-constructional) will be shortened. By reducing the flood risk in some area, the interest for use of the land will increase also from the possible investors enabling economic activities in this areas, of course under condition that particular economic activity would not increase the flood risk.
Economic activities are an important sector for estimation of the damage, benefits and, last but not least, also insurance plays an important part in implementation of a non-material security measure. With the developed unified method, the economy will receive support in deciding on the development and operation in floodplains. In particular, agriculture will be supported. The insurance industry will be assisted in more precise development of forms of insurance projects. Namely, the insurance industry also seeks long-term solutions for its users from determining premiums to facilities adapted to the actual situation on the ground.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2018,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
