Why are decisions in flood disaster management so poorly supported by information from flood models?

Flood simulation models can provide practitioners of Flood Disaster Management with sophisticated estimates of floods. Despite the advantages that flood simulation modeling may provide, experiences have proven that these models are of limited use. Until now, this problem has mainly been investigated by evaluations of which information is demanded by decision-makers versus what models can actually offer. However, the goal of this study is to investigate how model information is exchanged among participants in flood disaster organizations and how this exchange affects the use of modeling information. Our findings indicate that the extent to which a model is useful not only depends on the type and quality of its output, but also on how fast and flexible a model can be. In addition, methods of model use are required that support a fast exchange of model information between participants in the flood disaster organization

From Pilot Projects to Transformative Infrastructures, Exploring Market Receptivity for Permeable Pavement in The Netherlands

Climate change and changing land use challenge the livability and flood safety of Dutch cities. One option cities have to become more climate-proof is to increase infiltration of stormwater into soil through permeable pavement and thus reduce discharge of stormwater into sewer systems. To analyze the market receptivity for permeable pavements in the Netherlands, this article focuses on the perception of end-users towards key transition factors in the infrastructure transformation processes. Market receptivity was studied on two levels: (1) on the system level, by analyzing 20 key factors in the Dutch urban water sector that enable wider application of permeable pavements; and (2) on the technology level, by analyzing 12 key factors that explain why decision makers select permeable pavements or not. Results show that trust between cooperating partners was perceived as the system level key factor that needs to be improved most to facilitate the wider uptake of permeable pavements. Additionally, the association of end-users with permeable pavement, particularly their willingness to apply these technologies and their understanding of what kinds of benefits these technologies could bring, was regarded the most important receptivity attribute. On the technology level, the reliability of permeable pavement was regarded as the most important end-user consideration for selecting this technolog

From Pilot Projects to Transformative Infrastructures, Exploring Market Receptivity for Permeable Pavement in The Netherlands

Climate change and changing land use challenge the livability and flood safety of Dutch cities. One option cities have to become more climate-proof is to increase infiltration of stormwater into soil through permeable pavement and thus reduce discharge of stormwater into sewer systems. To analyze the market receptivity for permeable pavements in the Netherlands, this article focuses on the perception of end-users towards key transition factors in the infrastructure transformation processes. Market receptivity was studied on two levels: (1) on the system level, by analyzing 20 key factors in the Dutch urban water sector that enable wider application of permeable pavements; and (2) on the technology level, by analyzing 12 key factors that explain why decision makers select permeable pavements or not. Results show that trust between cooperating partners was perceived as the system level key factor that needs to be improved most to facilitate the wider uptake of permeable pavements. Additionally, the association of end-users with permeable pavement, particularly their willingness to apply these technologies and their understanding of what kinds of benefits these technologies could bring, was regarded the most important receptivity attribute. On the technology level, the reliability of permeable pavement was regarded as the most important end-user consideration for selecting this technology

A multi-layer flood safety approach towards resilient cities

The multi-layer safety approach focuses on flood risk reduction through three types of measures: (1) prevention through dikes, levees and dams , (2) a flood resilient spatial planning and (3) an adequate crisis management. Whereas the official Dutch policy propagates the multi-level safety approach, the current Dutch water safety policy is still focused on prevention only (layer 1). The integration with the two other layers (i.e. a flood resilient spatial planning and an adequate disaster management) has still to be explored. In order to assess the technical and the organizational feasibility of the multi-layer safety approach in urban areas, the Province of North-Holland and the Waterboard Hollands Noorderkwartier have initiated a case study. In this case study various stakeholders of a pilot area were invited to discuss about the opportunities of the multi-level safety approach. The case study and accompanying workshop showed that an integration of the different policy layers (i.e. dike reinforcement, spatial planning and disaster management) adds much complexity to the decision environment of the stakeholders, both in technical and organizational terms. A first requirement of the stakeholders involved in such decisions was understandable information about flood risks and an integration of flood risk information with the different policy fields of spatial planning and flood disaster management. The applied 3D visualization and high detailed 2D inundation model was highly appreciated to provide this information