Co-ordinator: Erik PascheProject Contract No: ERAC-FKZ 0330770Project website: www.crue-eranet.risk-urban.net

Integrate, Consolidate and Disseminate

European Flood Risk Management Research

ERA-NET CRUE Funding Initiative

Hamburg University of Technology, Germany

AbstractThe project will develop a methodological framework for flood management in small urban catchments. Based on case studies of urban river catchments of the cities Hamburg, Manchester, Bradford, Glasgow, Cologne, Dresden and Paris the effectiveness and efficiency of non-structural measures to reduce flood damage will be analysed and evaluated. On this basis the feasibility of assessing and mitigating flood risk from hidden watercourses and associated culverts in urban areas will be illustrated and possibilities and ways to implement effective, non-structural solutions to minimise flooding from these sources will be demonstrated. Finally the value of “daylighting” urban streams by removing culverts and restoring open channels that include space for flood storage will be shown.

Addressed Problem

Due to the sealed surface and compact, often hidden channels only little retention exists in small urban catchments. Heavy rain will produce flush floods even in flat areas.

What are the chances of non-structural measures under these extreme hydrological conditions?

What is the right strategy of flood risk management in these catchments? Can SUDS and daylighting of culverts reduce the probability of flood?

What risk awareness exists at stakeholders and how can it be improved?

Acknowledgments City of Hamburg, Cologne, Dresden Glasgow, Manchester, Bredford and Paris for providing data and cooperating in all activities

Risk Assessment and Risk Management in Small Urban Catchments

University of Manchester, EnglandUniversity of Sheffield, England

Actions and Applied Methods

inventory of each city’s hydrological and urban situation (flood risk, flood risk management plan, regulatory, societal, cultural and economic data).

Focus groups and interviews will be conducted to determine people’s flood risk awareness and readiness to live with floods (their risk culture).

By applying the interactive learning group method, the stakeholders will be tested on their capability and openness to apply soft mitigation methods and non-structural measures

Non-structural measures will be systemised and evaluated in their efficiency to raise risk awareness and to develop efficient flood risk management plans for urban catchments with rapidly rising floods

Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, Marne-la-Vallee. France

Sewer system and probable original course of Wrigley Brook, Manchester, England

Encroached Urban Watercourse and flash flood situation in Hamburg, summer 2002

From Information to Learning = Interactive Learning Groups

Documentation of Results in an internet-based knowledge base of flood resilience