Tuesday 1st of july – 16:30
16:30
The Residual Risks of Extreme Floods: A framework for equitable and environmentally sustainable solutions
AUTHORS
SERRA-LLOBET Anna, WANG Hsiao-Wen, VANDERLINDEN Jean-Paul
United-states
Short Abstract: Physical exposure to flood risks has dramatically increased during the second half of the 20th century, primarily because of the occupation of flood-prone land which increases the exposure of human populations to devastating floods. People who live behind protective levees (dikes) are considered to be ‘out of the official flood hazard area’ and may assume they are safe from flooding, even though they are still at risk in case of extreme events. Low-probability, high-consequence floods can wipe out many years of progress towards the Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs). Through interviews with stakeholders, workshops with experts and the analysis of specific case studies in five countries, the RREFlood Project brings together experts from different universities and disciplines to facilitate advances in knowledge and tools in support of SDG-centered residual flood risk management. Preliminary results show that one of the main challenges to assess and map residual flood risk is related to how to include the influence of climate change in the models used to define the potential hazard area. Regarding residual risk management approaches, we have seen that the effective implementation of policies with similar goals (e.g., reduce exposure in high hazard zone with land use planning tools) is very different in the five countries analyzed, due to cultural attitudes. Many countries are now exploring nature-based solutions for climate adaptation to reduce peak flows and increase ecological benefits, efforts not previously documented in the context of residual risk.
16:50
Towards an integrated approach to mitigating multi-hazard disaster risk on the Tagliamento River, northeastern Italy
AUTHORS
SCAINI Chiara, SCAINI Anna
Italy
Short Abstract: Risk depends on the frequency and magnitude of river-related hazards, but also on the exposure, e.g., the number, type and economic value of exposed assets. Land use planning can increase or decrease societal exposure to river-related risks such as floods. In this contribution, we bring together experiences that look into understanding and mapping the perception of river-related risks from and to the river as well as riverine socio-cultural values linked to rivers, such as identity and sense of place. Here, we look into how the perception of such values can influence water resources- and decision management using questionnaires, interviews, a map-based participatory approach as well as evidence-based data on land and water use, biodiversity and risks. We show results of this combined approach in the Tagliamento river (Italy), known as the last free-flowing Alpine river. We explore the synergies between river conservation and ecosystem-based land use planning through the analysis of past events and subsequent human interventions on the river (such as the construction of levees, and proposed infrastructures). We discuss the shortcomings of river interventions in the context of multi-hazard risk reduction and provide a list of aspects that should be taken into account for managing the river basin and pursuing communities and ecosystems resilience. Finally, we highlight the potential benefit of integrating local knowledge and historical evidence into storylines to demonstrate potential adaptation pathways for riverine communities.
17:10
Paying attention to the pollution that haunts flood victims to integrate environmental justice issues into our understanding of flood in France and in Quebec
AUTHORS
GENOUEL Maïlys, COMBY Emeline, LE LAY Yves-François
France
Short Abstract: Flooding disrupts urban metabolism and generates pollution, seen here as materials that are out of place (Douglas, 1966). We were interested in how flood victims, in an urban context, “cope with” these pollutions (Benitez, 2018) during and after floods. A campaign of door-to-door semi-directive interviews was carried out in four neighborhoods that had experienced floods, in France and Quebec. The interviews were analyzed using a mixed method, between qualitative and quantitative approaches. Firstly, our research details the mechanisms that explain the lack of consideration, by flood victims, of pollution caused by flooding as a social problem. Secondly, we show that flood pollution haunts the bodies and emotions of flood victims. Finally, despite the existence of knowledge of these issues among flood victims, we show that the lack of social concern leads to these toxic realities becoming confined ordeals, in a context where an increasingly individualistic and apolitical resilience is encouraged, producing numerous injustices.
17:30
Breaking the ice! Integrating academic, local and management knowledge into flood mapping
AUTHORS
MARTINEU Zoé, BUFFIN-BÉLANGER Thomas, TRUDEL Mélanie, RUIZ Julie
Canada
Short Abstract: Ice jams are a recurring phenomenon in many northern rivers, including those in of Québec (Canada). The rapid, high magnitude increases in water level that they can cause have major economic and social impacts on riverside communities. To date, prevention and mitigation remain difficult, given their unpredictability and the limitations of the most commonly used academic approaches. In order to feed into and enhance the knowledge generated by these approaches, knowledge integration will be used as a conceptual framework. Thus, academic, managerial and local knowledge will be mobilised in order to map the flood zones associated with ice jams on the Mitis River (Québec, Canada). Integration will allow focus on the reduction or increase of uncertainties in the mapping of these floods, depending on the convergence and density of knowledge. Given the complexity of the study of ice jams, the interest of the approach is to propose a management tool (mapping) that integrates different types of knowledge (local, managerial and academic), as well as different methods to obtain a more complete view of the phenomenon.
17:50
On the gamification of flooding risk: the ReFlood simulator
AUTHORS
Charpentier Isabelle
France
Short Abstract: Even when populations are aware of their exposure to risks, flood management and information systems remain poorly identified. Various regulatory documents report on risk areas identified through observation and numerical simulation, as well as on prevention, protection, and safeguard measures. However, the risk situation remains challenging to grasp concretely. Moreover, in the face of climate change, uncertainty has become more than ever a challenge in modeling and management. In this context, improving risk representation and awareness mechanisms represents a significant challenge.
To integrate these two aspects, we used a video game engine along with field and flow data to design the real-time simulator ReFlood. The goal is to offer a realistic 3D rendering of floods, which can be used in workshops to design and debate flood and urbanization scenarios. While the results of a simulator that prioritizes speed are not as precise as those of numerical simulations, modeling uncertainty can be evaluated and explained, reinforcing trust in ReFlood’s results and its ability to serve as an intermediary object between stakeholders.The I.S. RIVERS 2025 conference has been chosen to present the simulator to an audience of scientists and territorial actors, in order to gather their feedback on the results, the simulator, and its treatment of uncertainty, as well as on potential uses for flood risk representation, mediation, and awareness-raising.