OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide the student with the knowledge needed to map the hazard due to floods and flash floods. Satellite flood monitoring techniques in support of emergency phases will also be explored t

The objectives are achieved through lessons, practical exercises and seminars on specific topics.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the module is to introduce the student to the basic concepts and techniques for flood hazard mapping. These include: - the basics of flood hazard mapping: common terminology, indicators of hazard magnitude, basics of mapping techniques - elements of the statistical analysis of the hydrological extremes (river discharge and rainfall). Source of data and common statistical techniques to derive rainfall and river flow quantiles - elements of hydrological models: common simple rainfall-runoff and flow routing models. - flood hazard mapping: empirical, physically based and geomorphological models At the end of the module the student is expected to be able to - understand the meaning of flood hazard magnitude and interpret flood hazard maps - retrieve and manipulate series of hydrological extremes and apply basic statistics deriving rainfall and flood quantiles - apply simple hydrological modelling to the result of the statistical analysis of extremes - draw a flood hazard map for a small river basin using geomorphological methods.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The module addresses the problem of flood hazard mapping, as one of the steps of flood risk assessment, by identifying the specific problems linked to the different sizes of watersheds and proposing different methods of solution, in function of the objective of the risk assessment (local scale assessment, country risk profiles, etc ..). In particular, both empirical and physically based methods for flood hazard mapping will be analysed.

The module intends to provide the student with the knowledge needed to interpret flood hazard maps with a view to a subsequent risk assessment and provide the ability to map the same hazard with simplified methodologies. At the end of the course, the student is expected to be able to face the problem of flood hazard mapping at various spatial scales, from the point of view of the end user and of the “producer” and link it to the assessment of the flood risk in support to the phases of the risk management cycle.

In detail the student is expected to be able to:

• understand the meaning of flood hazard magnitude and interpret flood hazard maps
• know the different flood mapping techniques
• know how to retrieve and manipulate hydrological data and apply basic statistics for probabilistic flood hazard assessment
• apply simple hydrological modelling to the result of the statistical analysis of extremes
• draw a flood hazard map for a small river basin using geomorphological methods
• demonstrate decision-making autonomy, ability to effectively communicate the results of one's work in written and oral form, ability to adapt language to the context, ability to use different sources and aids.

The objectives will be achieved with a series of exercises on the different steps needed to produce a flood hazard map.  

TEACHING METHODS

At least 15 of the 40 hours of classes will be dedicated to exercises concerning the steps toward preliminary flood mapping. Students will have to independently choose/derive the project parameters by applying the methods described during lectures. Some hours will be dedicated to the students' presentation of any problems that may have emerged during the work and the solutions adopted will be discussed in an interactive manner. During the exam, each student will have to make a presentation of the results and have a discussion with the teacher regarding the different project choices.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The topics covered by the module are so subdivided:

Introduction: definition of meteo-hydrology, meteo-hydrological hazards and other hazards, methods of representation of flood hazard

Hydrological data analysis: Methods of analysis of hydrological observations for modeling of extremes, common databases for hydrological observations.

Principles of hydrology and hydraulics of extremes:  principles of hydrological modelling for flood hazard mapping and flood forecast

Flood hazard mapping: empirical and physically based flood hazard mapping methods

Each section foresees the assignment of an exercise on a specific case study which must be presented for the exam.

The module contributes to the achievement of the SDGs #1, #4, #9, #11 and #13 of the UN 2030 agenda

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Texts and essential bibliography consist of the module slides and documents that will be presented by the teacher and made available via aulaweb. The list of documents can be integrated from year to year according to research and technological developments. Below is a basic list

Disasters in numbers (last):

https://reliefweb.int/attachments/75c40f33-ca45-4027-b721-99bdcb42ab9f/2022_EMDAT_report.pdf

Databases of meteo-hydrological observations:

•Global Runoff Data Centre(discharge)

http://www.bafg.de/GRDC/EN/Home/homepage_node.html

•NCDC Climate data online:

https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/datasets

•IMERG/GPM - TRMM  data (rainfall from satellite): 

https://pmm.nasa.gov/data-access/downloads/

Global assessment report 2022

https://www.undrr.org/gar2022-our-world-risk-gar

QGis Tutorials:

https://www.qgistutorials.com/en/

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The timetable of the course can be found here:

https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/?view=home&include=homepage&_lang=en

Class schedule

HYDRO-METEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral, during which the student will have to critically illustrate the exercises carried out during the course and answer specific questions on the theoretical part of the program not included in the topics of the exercises

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Federico Scarpa (federico.scarpa@unige.it), the disability liaison for the Engineering study programs

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Four reports on applications of flood hazard mapping steps are planned . The exercises, delivered in form of report or presentation, will be presented and discussed in depth during the final exam. 
The second part of the exam will be dedicated to some theoretical questions about the program

60% of the summative assessment of the course is based on the presentation of the reports. 40% of the assessment is based on the outcome of the oral questions.