Flood risk assessment: concepts, modelling, applications

TLDR

Natural hazards increasingly threaten human and environmental systems, with flood hazards causing the most destructive impacts. The paper proposes a new systemic paradigm for assessing flood hazard and risk in riverine flood‑prone areas. The authors introduce 2‑D fully dynamic flood modelling, particularly for urban areas with mild terrain and complex topography. The study critically reviews the EU flood directive, presenting implementation examples and highlighting key challenges. Abstract.

Abstract

Abstract. Natural hazards have caused severe consequences to the natural, modified and human systems in the past. These consequences seem to increase with time due to both the higher intensity of the natural phenomena and the higher value of elements at risk. Among the water-related hazards, flood hazards have the most destructive impacts. The paper presents a new systemic paradigm for the assessment of flood hazard and flood risk in the riverine flood-prone areas. Special emphasis is given to the urban areas with mild terrain and complicated topography, in which 2-D fully dynamic flood modelling is proposed. Further, the EU flood directive is critically reviewed and examples of its implementation are presented. Some critical points in the flood directive implementation are also highlighted.