Identifying hotspots of coastal risk and evaluating DRR measures: results from the RISC-KIT project.

Ap Van Dongeren1, Paolo Ciavola2, Christophe Viavattene3, Simone Dekleermaeker1, Grit Martinez4, Oscar Ferreira5 and Cristina Costa6, (1)Deltares, Delft, Netherlands, (2)CFR Ferrara, Italy, (3)Middlesex University, FHRC, London, United Kingdom, (4)Ecologic Institute, Germany, (5)U. Algarve, Portugal, (6)EurOcean, Portugal
Abstract:
High-impact storm events have demonstrated the vulnerability of coastal zones in Europe and beyond. These impacts are likely to increase due to predicted climate change and ongoing coastal development. In order to reduce impacts, disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures need to be taken, which prevent or mitigate the effects of storm events. To drive the DRR agenda, the UNISDR formulated the Sendai Framework for Action, and the EU has issued the Floods Directive.

However, neither is specific about the methods to be used to develop actionable DRR measures in the coastal zone. Therefore, there is a need to develop methods, tools and approaches which make it possible to:

  • identify and prioritize the coastal zones which are most at risk through a Coastal Risk Assessment Framework,
  • evaluate the effectiveness of DRR options for these coastal areas, using an Early Warning/Decision Support System, which can be used both in the planning and event-phase.

This paper gives an overview of the products and results obtained in the FP7-funded project RISC-KIT, which aims to develop and apply a set of tools with which highly-vulnerable coastal areas (so-called “hotspots”) can be identified. The identification is done using the Coastal Risk Assessment Framework, or CRAF, which computes the intensity from multi-hazards, the exposure and the vulnerability, all components of risk, including network and cascading effects. Based on this analysis hot spots of risk which warrant coastal protection investments are selected.

 For these hotspot areas, high-resolution Early Warning and Decision Support Tools are developed with which it is possible to compute in detail the effectiveness of Disaster Risk Reduction measures in storm event scenarios, which helps decide which measures to implement in the planning phase. The same systems, but now driven with real time data, can also be used for early warning systems.

All tools are tested on eleven case study areas, at least one on each EU Regional Sea, and one international case in Bangladesh. Promising DRR measures and experiences are collected in a web-based Management Guide, and information on storm impacts is stored in a Coastal Risk Database.

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