Pluvial hazard, risk assessment and adaptation

This tool is designed to help local authorities to explore pluvial hazard & risk from extreme convective precipitation events and subsequent flooding due to surface rainwater accumulation which the existing urban drainage system is unable to absorb. The tool delineates the areas prone to flooding under different rainfall intensities and persistence and estimates the damage to physical assets such as buildings’ structures and content. The tool is amendable to inform adaptation measures such as green urban regeneration and natural water retention measures by means of green roofs and green urban areas. The application of the tool is amendable to help users to identify existing green urban infrastructures and identify areas suitable to extend them, while controlling for the potential to reduce flood damage or share of affected population. The tool is meant for urban planners, local citizen action groups, civil society organizations, businesses  and risk managers (insurers and insurance brokers). 

Benefits of using the tool

The tool enables a better appreciation of pluvial hazards and risks and empowers the users to design solutions to boost local resilience. The benefits vary across the user groups, for example urban and regional authorities gain insights into climate risks as an input to climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies; businesses draw insights about how their exposure to physical climate risks and local action groups obtain insights about how the neighborhood green regeneration strategies contribute to reducing the risks. The results of the tool contribute to building a knowledge base of climate related impacts & risks.  

City Hub experiences

MILAN city hub has implemented the full application of the tool along with the extension to analyze the green infrastructure network. Other cities such as Athens, Gdynia and Logrono are preparing for the application of the tool. 

Triple-A phases and complexity

The tool can be used in the following Triple-A phases: 

Analysis phase: Pluvial hazard & risk assessment – impact in terms of damage and population affected   

Action phase: Identification, evaluation, and prioritization of adaptation measures – green regeneration, nature-based solutions and urban green infrastructures (spatial connectivity) 

Overall level of complexity: Level 2 (customized approach) 

More information at:

SaferPlaces: Global Platform 

AI-based Digital Twin Solution for Flood Risk Intelligence 

– Copernicus Pluvial Flood Risk Assessment in Urban Areas