CORFU

Collaborative research on flood resilience in urban areas

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Collaborative research on flood resilience in urban areas (CORFU) is an interdisciplinary international project that will look at advanced and novel strategies and provide adequate measures for improved flood management in cities. The differences in urban flooding problems in Asia and in Europe range from levels of economic development, infrastructure age, social systems and decision making processes, to prevailing drainage methods, seasonality of rainfall patterns and climate change trends. Our vision is that this project will use these differences to create synergies that will bring new quality to flood management strategies globally. Through a 4-year collaborative research programme, the latest technological advances will be cross-fertilised with traditional and emerging approaches to living with floods. The overall aim of CORFU is to enable European and Asian institutions to learn from each other through joint investigation, development, implementation and dissemination of strategies that will enable more scientifically sound management of the consequences of urban flooding in the future. Flood impacts in urban areas – potential deaths, damage to infrastructure and health problems and consequent effects on individuals and on communities – and possible responses will be assessed by envisaging different scenarios of relevant drivers: urban development, socio-economic trends and climate changes. The cost-effectiveness of resilience measures and integrative and adaptable flood management plans for these scenarios will be quantified. CORFU is structured in six Work Packages. WP1 will look at drivers that impact on urban flooding. WP2 will enhance methodologies and tools for flood hazard assessment based on urban flood modelling. WP3 will improve, extend and integrate modern methods for flood impact assessment. WP4 will aim to assess and enhance existing flood risk management strategies. WP5 will disseminate the outputs. WP6 will co-ordinate the project.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Worldwide, flooding affects huge populations across many cities. An EU initiative worked with Asian partners to introduce and explore the state of the art in development and implementation of resilience measures and flood management strategies.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The 'Collaborative research on flood resilience in urban areas' (http://www.corfu7.eu/ (CORFU)) project studied flood impacts in urban areas and assessed possible responses.

Team members developed and tested various novel modelling tools. These include a 2D model that simulates transport of pollutants and enables the assessment of health impacts of floods, a direct damage toolbox, a web-based system for analysis of flood and damage maps, and a flood resilience index assessment tool. Other models focus on quantifying a range of socioeconomic drivers and indicators in case study cities. These include an urban growth model and the awareness-relationships-livelihood framework, which assesses the ability to cope with floods.

Project partners examined the climate change, economic and social drivers that have an impact on urban flooding. The aim was to identify potential policy areas where the responses to the drivers can be most effective. They assessed flood impacts in urban areas such as possible deaths, destruction to infrastructure, health concerns, and resulting effects on individuals and communities. Assessment of the level of preparedness and actual responses was also carried out. The cost effectiveness of resilience measures and integrative and adaptable flood risk management plans for the drivers were also evaluated.

In addition, the CORFU team assessed and improved current flood risk management strategies. These strategies are related to planning and prevention for the reduction of flood risk and management during floods. An overall strategy for urban planning was developed and tested.

The project's main dissemination event was an international conference on flood resilience experiences in Asia and Europe that was held in 2013.

CORFU created synergies between key Asian and European players that will result in optimised flood management strategies. More scientifically sound management of the after-effects of urban flooding will positively impact populations worldwide.