An Assessment of Weather-Related Risks in Europe: Maps of Flood and Drought Risks

This technical report describes the adopted methodology and the outputs produced during the first 18 months of life of the 'ADAM' project. ADAM (Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies: Supporting European Climate Policy) is an Integrated Project financed under thematic priority 'Global Change and Ecosystems' of the 6th framework programme (for further information, see www.adam.info) The task 'A2.1 - An assessment of weather-related risks in Europe' has the following main objective: 'Quantify and map weather-related extreme-event risks to public and private capital assets, human lives, and agriculture/forestry/tourism, and identify high-risk areas (hot spots) on which to focus more detailed analysis.' The key innovative aspects of the work herein presented are manifold: - the quantification of the probabilistic monetary impact of extreme events; - the combined use of modelling techniques and of observed data to supply the lack of information at the various scales of relevance of the study; - the estimation of uncertainty arising from limitations in data availability and modelling assumptions; - the geographical scale (continental) of the exercise. The key outputs of task A2.1 are digital maps of risks from natural extremes at European scale identifying monetary/economic losses. The maps are furnished as input to other tasks of package A2 for successive modelling exercises and analysis. As defined in the project work-plan, task A.21 has duration of 24 months. The 18-month deliverables are maps of flood and drought risks. The report focuses on inland river flood damage to properties and infrastructures and on climatic stresses (drought and heat waves) in agriculture. Population exposure has only been addressed in a partial study and it's therefore not included in the final monetary losses assessment. The work on floods has been carried out by the Institute for Environment and Sustainability of the Joint Research Centre; the work on droughts and heat waves by the Department of Agronomy and Land Management - University of Florence. The methodology is centred on the risk paradigm of the research community. The risk is defined as a product of hazard, exposure and vulnerability where: - Hazard is the threatening natural event including its probability/magnitude of occurrence; - Exposure is the values/humans that are present at the location related to a given event; - Vulnerability is the lack of resistance to damaging/destructive forces (damage function). This definition has been applied to extreme events such as floods and heat/water stresses, with the due adjustments required by data availability and specific modelling techniques.JRC.H.7-Land management and natural hazard

New tools fon an integrated vision of the territory: "LANDSCAPP"

Landscape is part of everyone’s cultural heritage, if recognized and understood; such consciousness fosters a more creative participation of society in a balanced management of the territory and sustainable development: an important resource in times of crisis. Cognitive tools now enjoy a wide use and offer us a means of immediate communicative diffusion of scientific knowledge relative to an area and an environment. LANDSCApp, a smartphone app, gives the public a chance to try an alternative approach to the knowledge of the natural and cultural territorial heritage, thanks to a set of information related to the geological, morphological, environmental settings of the Italian landscapes

Humankind and Risk: a difficult history

Talking about catastrophes in the Anthropocene Era means tackling a complex and often misunderstood topic, difficult to understand for the general public. On the other hand, a greater and more widespread attention should be given to this theme, especially in relation to natural hazards and risk. The influence of the catastrophe theory does not seem to have sufficiently permeated the interpretive field of the natural sciences, more focused on the traditional systematic approach, antithetical to the systemic and holistic one that characterizes the methodological assumptions of contemporary research on complex systems. This chapter aims to analyze the salient characteristics of the relationship between society and disasters, highlighting those elements that condition social perception of risk as well as risk management. It is important, in our opinion, to focus on the clarity of communication and, above all, on the ability in arousing public interest, to make society aware of the urgent need to change the individual/community/social behavior in a sustainable way, with the aim to prevent natural risks and mitigating their effects

Landscape analysis as a tool for risk reduction

We live in an era defined as postmodern. Socio-economic developments require a knowledge that keeps pace with the dizzying speed of technological evolution. The disconnect between progress, society, and environment triggers unpredictable side effects on the planet: that is the Anthropocene paradigm. How can this be changed? Shared awareness seems to be the only possible solution that can be only reached through knowledge, which is provided by science. Landscape, as the perceivable expression of our planet, becomes a strategic tool in communicating Territorial Sciences, aiming at involving society in a common action toward a sustainable future. The awareness of being part of an ecosystem is achieved through the knowledge and the experience of the environment. The risk prevention must necessarily be based on cognitive processes that activate in society conscious knowledge, as well as virtuous practices. Knowledge is wisdom, the first step towards the so-called “civil self-protection”. A lot of initiatives have been started in the last years, all around the world. Most of them are devoted to the school activities. However, the facies sociale of the decision makers is not enough involved in the topics we have talked about. So the voters, the policymakers, the territorial planners, are more interested in those problems related to the “here and now”. They have to be sensitized on what prevention means, on environmental protection, on territorial valorization. The landscape encompasses a lot of meanings and trigger emotions, thus it provides us with the most effective tools to share the essential concept of Earth Sciences, especially those ones that can help individual/community/society to better behave, toward a healthier planet and a shared well-being

LANDSCApp: a friendly way to share the Italian geo-heritage

The geological landscape is an excellent topic for a better enhancement of the sustainable tourism. Considering Landscape as the result of the endogenous and exogenous activities that form the Earth's surface, and/or as the result of the interaction of many natural and cultural components, it is almost mandatory the use of such a theme as an informative vector in Environment Sciences popularization. Modern technology offers new powerful tools to reach and share a complete knowledge on the territory (intended as the integration between natural and cultural components). The overlay of thematic maps (geological, geomorphological, physiographic maps) as well as the integration of collected data allows us to identify the areas of greater natural and cultural value. The outdoor sports, expecially cycling and ski, give us an opportunity to talk about the territory, referring to its natural and cultural history; GIS and 3D modelling, are flexible and friendly tools in educational plans as well as in territorial promotion, fitting for the purpose of a twinning with TV sport transmission, as confirmed by the GeoloGiro experience (Geology at the Giro d’Italia 2013/14/15/16). The prototypical App here proposed, will show the landscape where the sports are played, through the visualisation of thematic maps and correlated images (3D modelling, animation, cartoons) integrating information on local environment and culture: the "LandscApp". We argue that special attention should be devoted to the link between landscapes, wine tourism and sports, and that this new field would spur new actions to promote sustainable development in Italy, as well as a more sensible culture of responsible wine consumption

PPGIS applied to environmental communication and hazards for a community-based approach: a dualism in the Southern Italy "calanchi" landscape

The need of protection of the territory is a priority for the society, which is an integral part of it (unfortunately, this coincidence is often forgotten): the new environmental issues require the development of innovative management strategies and of appropriate knowledge and models. The balanced use of resources, essential for the survival and well-being of society, can be optimised through the promotion of the territory. The identification and the sustainable development of local resources can only be achieved by directing development policies towards a path of integration between ecological needs, protection of the landscape and socio-economic and cultural needs. The landscape, read as a result of the interaction between human and natural processes, is a rich heritage to safeguard, enhance and promote. The key requirement underlying each cultural and environmental enhancement project is the knowledge of the territory in its manifold aspects; knowledge that can be properly synthesised through cartographic representation: maps are tools to make data easily accessible and meaningful. In this contribution, after having carried out a review of the literature on GIS technologies and having provided some work examples, we analyse some proposals about the application of PPGIS on communication of environmental promotion initiatives; PPGIS, in fact, are effective in risk communication and information and in the consequent prevention of disasters. The mediated and participatory use of PPGIS technologies, furthermore, allows a community-based approach, fundamental for reducing the disaster risk

River Flood Risk and Adaptation in Europe - Assessment of the Present Status

Flood disasters have had a devastating effect worldwide over the past century, both in terms of human suffering and material losses. The study of these events and development of more effective adaptation and mitigation policies has become a priority, both in Europe and other parts of the globe. This paper detects and presents the spatial distribution of flood risks in Europe. The results highlight regions where the threat to the economy from river flood hazard is of major concern.JRC.H.7-Climate Risk Managemen