scholarly journals Understanding the Costs of Inaction–An Assessment of Pluvial Flood Damages in Two European Cities

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicklin ◽  
Leicher ◽  
Dieperink ◽  
Leeuwen
Keyword(s):  
Flood Risk ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Flood Damage ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Flood Risks ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Flood Damages ◽  
Flood Damage Estimation

Today, over 50% of the global population lives near water. Due to population growth, ongoing economic development, and extreme weather events, urban areas are growing more susceptible to flood risks, and the costs of inaction of failing to manage flood risks are high. Research into the benefits of pluvial flood-risk management is needed to spread awareness and motivate investments in pluvial flood-risk reduction. So far, such research is lacking. This research therefore assesses pluvial flood damage from a single 60mm/1-hour rainfall event in the cities of Rotterdam and Leicester using 3Di flood modelling and the flood damage estimation tool (waterschadeschatter; WSS). The results demonstrate that potential pluvial flood damages exceed €10 million in each city. From this research, inhabitants and authorities of Leicester and Rotterdam can learn that preparing for upcoming pluvial floods can save millions of euros resulting from future damages. The application of these tools also makes clear that data availability is a highly relevant bottleneck to the pluvial flood damage assessment process. By addressing data shortages, flood damage estimates can be strengthened, which improves decision support and enhances the chance actions are taken in reducing pluvial flood risks.

scholarly journals Is there a Need to Integrate Human Thermal Models with Weather Forecasts to Predict Thermal Stress?

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (22) ◽  
pp. 4586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petersson ◽  
Kuklane ◽  
Gao
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stress ◽  
Cold Stress ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Stress Index ◽  
Thermal Models ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Heat And Cold Stress

More and more people will experience thermal stress in the future as the global temperature is increasing at an alarming rate and the risk for extreme weather events is growing. The increased exposure to extreme weather events poses a challenge for societies around the world. This literature review investigates the feasibility of making advanced human thermal models in connection with meteorological data publicly available for more versatile practices and a wider population. By providing society and individuals with personalized heat and cold stress warnings, coping advice and educational purposes, the risks of thermal stress can effectively be reduced. One interesting approach is to use weather station data as input for the wet bulb globe temperature heat stress index, human heat balance models, and wind chill index to assess heat and cold stress. This review explores the advantages and challenges of this approach for the ongoing EU project ClimApp where more advanced models may provide society with warnings on an individual basis for different thermal environments such as tropical heat or polar cold. The biggest challenges identified are properly assessing mean radiant temperature, microclimate weather data availability, integration and continuity of different thermal models, and further model validation for vulnerable groups.

scholarly journals Underground Cities : Sustainable Urbanism of the Future

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2S8) ◽  
pp. 1754-1757
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Natural Catastrophes ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Sustainable Urbanism ◽  
The World ◽  
High Precipitation ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Cities across the world are the main contributors to climate change but at the same time they are also the most vulnerable to its consequences. Some of the disastrous impacts of climate change include extreme weather events, periods of extreme heat and cold, high precipitation, floods, strong cyclones and storms. There is a need for urban design guidelines to effectively address the issues of climate chanbe and increase the resilience of cities. One way to adapt to this is through engineered infrastructure. Today nearly 70% of the world live in urban areas and in the next 20 years two billion more people are expected to move to the cities. With increasing urban densification land and buildable areas are going to become increasingly scarce. One possible solution is to build downwards instead of upwards. Underground areas are less susceptible to external influences and have the ability to better withstand natural catastrophes and hence can be sustainable solution for an unpredictable future. This paper will analyze the viability of underground cities through examples from history and existing case studies along with new upcoming proposals and probe how using underground spaces can increase the resilience of future cities

scholarly journals Development of Nomogram for Debris Flow Forecasting Based on Critical Accumulated Rainfall in South Korea

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2181
Author(s):  
Nam ◽  
Lee ◽  
Kim
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Debris Flow ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Rainfall Intensity ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Accumulated Rainfall ◽  
Landslides And Debris Flows ◽  
Heavy Rains

Climate change causes extreme weather events worldwide such as increasing temperatures and changing rainfall patterns. With South Korea facing growing damage from the increased frequency of localized heavy rains. In particular, its steep slope lands, including mountainous areas, are vulnerable to damage from landslides and debris flows. In addition, localized short-term heavy rains that occur in urban areas with extremely high intensity tend to lead a sharp increase in damage from soil-related disasters and cause huge losses of life and property. Currently, South Korea forecasts landslides and debris flows using the standards for forecasting landslides and heavy rains. However, as the forecasting is conducted separately for rainfall intensity and accumulated rainfall, this lacks a technique that reflects both amount and intensity of rainfall in an episode of localized heavy rainfall. In this study, aims to develop such a technique by collecting past cases of debris flow occurrences and rainfall events that accompanied debris flows to calculate the rainfall triggering index (RTI) reflecting accumulated rainfall and rainfall intensity. In addition, the RTI is converted into the critical accumulated rainfall (Rc) to use rainfall information and provide real-time forecasting. The study classifies the standards for flow debris forecasting into three levels: ALERT (10–50%), WARNING (50–70%), and EMERGENCY (70% or higher), to provide a nomogram for 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h. As a result of applying this classification into the actual cases of Seoul, Chuncheon, and Cheongju, it is found that about 2–4 h of response time is secured from the point of the Emergency level to the occurrence of debris flows.

scholarly journals An Application of an Urban Freight Transportation System for Reduced Environmental Emissions

Systems ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Evripidis P. Kechagias ◽  
Sotiris P. Gayialis ◽  
Grigorios D. Konstantakopoulos ◽  
Georgios A. Papadopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Freight Transportation ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Routing And Scheduling ◽  
Urban Freight ◽  
Logistics Company ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Environmental Emissions

Today, there is a great need for greener urban freight transportations due to their ever-increasing environmental impact. The planet’s climate has been significantly affected as the temperature is constantly rising and extreme weather events are occurring more and more often. Aiming to reduce the environmental impact of freight transportation in urban areas, an advanced vehicle routing and scheduling system for improving urban freight transportations, has been developed. This paper presents the functionality of the advanced system, while also analyzing its subsystems and demonstrating its use in a case study. The system is provided as an integrated cloud-based software to support the needs of logistics companies, in order to efficiently schedule their deliveries and perform the routing of their vehicles. The utilized multi-objective algorithm produces solutions that minimize either the distribution cost or the environmental emissions or a combination of these parameters. An application of the system is performed for validation purposes, concerning the comparison of the system’s results with corresponding real-life data provided by a medium-sized logistics company. The results of the testing reveal its significant contribution to the reduction of the environmental impact of the company’s distribution services.

scholarly journals A methodology for flood risk appraisal in Lithuania

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irena Kriščiukaitienė ◽  
Tomas Baležentis ◽  
Aistė Galnaitytė ◽  
Virginia Namiotko
Keyword(s):  
Flood Risk ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Flood Damage ◽  
Flood Risk Management ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Social Risk ◽  
Risk Appraisal ◽  
Aggregate Risk ◽  
Flood Risk Mapping

Abstract This paper presents a methodology for flood risk mapping as envisaged by the Directive on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risks [Directive 2007/60/EC]. Specifically, we aimed at identifying the types of flood damage that can be estimated given data availability in Lithuania. Furthermore, we present the main sources of data and the associated cost functions. The methodology covers the following main types of flood threats: risk to inhabitants, risk to economic activity, and social risk. A multi-criteria framework for aggregation of different risks is proposed to provide a comprehensive appraisal of flood risk. On the basis of the proposed research, flood risk maps have been prepared for Lithuania. These maps are available for each type of flood risk (i.e. inhabitants, economic losses, social risk) as well as for aggregate risk. The results indicate that flood risk management is crucial for western and central Lithuania, whereas other parts of the country are not likely to suffer from significant losses due to flooding.

scholarly journals Extreme Weather Events and their Consequences

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zbigniew W. Kundzewicz
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Flood Risk ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Weather Extremes ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract The damage (in real terms after adjusting for inflation) caused by extreme weather events globally has increased dramatically over the past few decades. This is a result of an increase in the amplitude and frequency of weather extremes, as well as of human factors causing a widespread increase in levels of exposure and vulnerability. There are a number of reasons to consider that, in many regions of the globe, weather extremes (e.g. heat waves, droughts, forest fires, intense rainfall, floods and landslides) are becoming both yet more extreme and more frequent. Projections for the future based on climate and impact models point to a further strengthening of this trend. There has already been an increase in rainfall intensity in conditions of a warmer climate, and a continuation of this trend is expected, with adverse consequences for flood risk. However, the development of flood-prone areas and increase in damage potential are often the dominant factors underpinning growing flood damage and flood risk. In warmer climates, an increased risk of river and flash flooding caused by heavy rainfall, as well as an increasing risk of coastal flooding associated with sea level rise can be expected over large areas. By the same token, a reduction in the risk of snowmelt flooding events is projected in the warmer climate. Projections also indicate an increased risk of drought in many areas. The projections for climate change in Poland point to several risks associated with an increase in the frequency, intensity and severity of weather extremes (heat waves, intensive rainfall, flooding and landslides, coastal surges, drought during the growing season and winter, strong winds and pathogens associated with warming). Heat waves will become more frequent, more intense and more troublesome for the ageing population of Poland.

scholarly journals Corona Virus, Climate Change, and Food Security

2021 ◽  
pp. 563-579
Author(s):  
Nkiru Theresa Meludu ◽  
Toyin Abolade
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Food Shortage ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
The World ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Improve Food Security

AbstractCoronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is a current pandemic causing lockdown of cities and countries. The nature of this disease and the global cases are still considered as deadly all over the world. Analogous was drawn between the current COVID-19 pandemic and some of the other contemporary crises of the world as regards to climate change in addition to food shortage. Also, Survey Monkey instrument was used to generate emperical evidences from 514 respondents on covid-19 awareness and the effect on food security. Effects of diseases on climate change, such as the increasing frequency and strength of extreme weather events or the expanding range and spread of diseases was considered. Then, the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change was investigated. Prior to the pandemic, climate change already had adverse effects on agriculture and vice versa, which led to food insecurity. The need for fruits as well as leafy and root vegetables in peri-urban and urban areas is increasing, as well as the food shortage. A drop in agricultural production will be expected in the future if the pandemic continues for a few more months. The perception and adherence to the preventive measures for this pandemic were determined to reduce its spread and lessen its effect on agricultural production as well as to improve food security

scholarly journals Physical Vulnerability and Local Responses to Flood Damage in Peri-Urban Areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3957 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Nawrose Fatemi ◽  
Seth Asare Okyere ◽  
Stephen Kofi Diko ◽  
Michihiro Kita ◽  
Motoki Shimoda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Flood Management ◽  
Flood Damage ◽  
Structural Quality ◽  
Physical Vulnerability ◽  
Response Strategies ◽  
Local Responses ◽  
Management Regime ◽  
Flood Damages

In Eastern Dhaka, perennial flood remains a constant threat to people and livelihoods. Learning from the micro-level experiences of the poor in the peri-urban areas of Dhaka provides insights on the intersections between physical vulnerability, flood response strategies, and adaptive capacity. Through a convergent mixed method, this study examines the physical vulnerability of residential buildings, flood damages, and local physical responses in three neighborhoods of Eastern Dhaka. Results show that the level of damage to buildings is the most important predictor of physical vulnerability to floods. Buildings that are older than 20 years old and built with natural materials are likely to experience high flood damages compared to buildings that are less than 10 years and constructed with durable materials. The study concludes that in addition to socio-economic interventions, a targeted and people-centered flood management regime that pays attention to age, material composition, and structural quality of houses is necessary to build residents’ adaptive capacities and long-term resilience to flooding. This study contributes to the emerging work on grassroots responses to flood vulnerabilities with practical insights for urban planners and disaster management professionals on particular interventions needed to improve the performance of local responses to flood risks and vulnerabilities.

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