4th European Conference on Flood Risk Management

We are delighted to introduce HDR as silver sponsor to the FLOODrisk2020 virtual conference

HDR is an employee-owned design firm specializing in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. For more than a century, we have partnered with our clients to shape flood resilient communities and protect and sustain water resources around the world. We approach flood risk management from an integrated perspective. Using nature-based and manmade infrastructure components, our subject matter experts in hydrology, hydraulics, geotechnical and structural engineering, consequences modeling and risk informed decision making engineer flood defence solutions that push the boundaries of what is possible.

We believe that the way we work can add meaning and value to the world. That ideas inspire positive change. That coloring outside the lines can illuminate fresh perspectives. And that small details yield important realizations. Above all, we believe that collaboration is the best way forward. 

Headquartered in the United States, our 10000+ employees work in over 200 locations around the world to deliver projects that build strong communities. To learn more about how we are helping our clients create resilient communities please visit hub.floodrisk2020.net/exhibition/hdr/. 

Please make sure to visit our virtual stand, view the poster, view the video and download the brochure. You can also message us by using the 'Click to message' function on the right hand side.

You can visit the virtual exhibition hall even if you are not yet registered. We would like to take this opportunity though to remind you to register here to attend the conference and make the most of the features already available online.

The video presentations for the FLOODrisk2020 virtual conference are already available online on the conference gateway on hub.floodrisk2020.net for all registered participants.

There are multiple ways that you can access the presentations:

• you can go to the 'programme' page an click on the  icon next to  the session that you are interested in, which will open a detailed information age for this session
• in the programme page, you can also click on the  icon to add the session to your schedule and then from the 'my schedule' window (accessed by clicking on the 'my window' button you can access the detailed information page by clicking on the 'View sessions details link'
• In the gateway homepage, you can select one of the Theme's hub you can view the presentations in the 'View Videos' section or by clicking on the red links in the programme section

Don't forget that you are also able to submit your questions in advance.

Note: video presentations will not be shown live in the sessions during the conference. You will need to navigate through the website to view them. However we have allocated enough time in the programme for you to view the videos, on the virtual conference website, before the Q&A sessions start. 

If you have not yet registered to attend the conference, now is the time to do so to make the most of the conference. Please do so by going to the Registration page on the website.

We hope that you will enjoy the FLOODrisk2020 virtual conference in this new format and look forward to welcoming you on 22 June 2021 at 9:30 CEST (the time in Paris) for our live opening ceremony.

We are delighted to announce that the recorded videos for the conference presentations, whether oral or poster, are now available on the FLOODrisk2020 virtual conference hub.floodrisk2020.net website for registered participants to view.

If you have already registered to attend the conference, you can now make your way to hub.floodrisk2020.net, select the Theme that you are interested in, and select the video that you wish to view from the 'View Videos' section or by clicking on the red links in the programme section. This will load a popup-box enabling you to view the video and download the presentation and paper if they have been provided.

Note that the titles not in red are those for which we have not yet received a video presentation. Videos will be uploaded as and when they are supplied to us, so please come back to the website, regularly between now and the conference start on 22nd June, to view the video presentations.

In the popup boxes, underneath each video and below the programme section in each Theme hub, you will also be able to submit questions for the presentations that you have viewed, ahead of the conference and the Question and Answer sessions that will take place live from 22nd to 24th June. We would be grateful if you could do this, as it would greatly help us in organising those live Q&A sessions. The session chair will then be able to ask those questions for you if you are not able to attend in person or if too many people raise their hands to speak.

Note: video presentations will not be shown live in the sessions during the conference. You will need to navigate through the website to view them. However we have allocated enough time in the programme for you to view the videos, on the virtual conference website, before the Q&A sessions start. 

The videos will be available to view for all registered participants, from today, all the way through the conference and after the conference, giving you plenty of time to view the content of the conference at your leisure. The Q&A sessions will also be recorded and posted to the website, once they are completed, giving you the opportunity to view the discussions that took place during the conference, even if you were not able to participate in those Q&A sessions, making it even more important for you to view the videos and submit your questions in advance.

If you have not yet registered to attend the conference, now is the time to do so to make the most of the conference. Please do so by going to the Registration page on the website.

We hope that you will enjoy the FLOODrisk2020 virtual conference in this new format and look forward to welcoming you on 22 June 2021 at 9:30 CEST (the time in Paris) for our live opening ceremony.

The Special Session: Life Loss Assessment Models and Methods will take place virtually on Wednesday 23 June 2021 from 16:00 to 17:30. Note the timing has changed from 11:00 to accommodate our participants who will be joining the session from the USA.

The session will be led by Karin de Bruijn, Jason Needham, Woodrow Fields, and Paul Risher

This special session will cover the uses of flood fatality models around the world. In some countries, flood risk management laws require quantification of flood fatalities to understand flood risk. Some countries have policy that supports flood fatality modeling, and others are mute on the subject. We’ll discuss how the results of a flood fatality model can inform flood risk management decisions by providing a better understanding of flood risk.

The team will review essential elements of all flood fatality models and survey some of the most frequently used models and methods from around the globe. The scale of model resolution, theoretical basis, and source of empirical data underlying these methods make them useful for different applications. Historical data is important for model validation, but scarce. A few sources of historical information and opportunities to contribute will be discussed.

The US Army Corps of Engineers, developers of LifeSim, will demonstrate their software and discuss its application on a historical dam breach flood. They will show how to load and manipulate input data, run a Monte Carlo evacuation simulation with consideration of uncertainty, and visualize output in maps and figures.  Participants can follow along by downloading the software at: HEC-LifeSim Downloads (army.mil).

Finally, there will be time for the audience to participate in the discussion and ask questions of the panel.

The programme of this special session will include

16:00      Purpose and overview

• Standard elements of flood fatality models
• Application of life loss modeling for flood risk assessments
• Informing flood risk management through life loss modeling

16:10      International flood risk policy

• Survey of laws and policy requiring or benefitting from flood fatality models

16:15      Methods and models

• Review and compare frequently used flood fatality models and methods
• Model application and preferred usage
• Historic validation data – databases of flood fatalities

16.35      LifeSim v 2.0 demonstration

• Review a dam failure case history
• Build and run a HEC-LifeSim model of the historic flood
• Visualize typical model output and results

17:05      Audience participation, questions and answers with session leaders. 

• Standard models

17:30      Closing

Please use the 'add to Schedule' button on the Special Session Programme, to register your interest in participating in this special session.

For more information visit the Special Session Hub and the webpage https://hub.floodrisk2020.net/theme/specials/lifeloss/.

To access this page, you will need to be registered online. If you haven't done so yet, please Register Now Here. Now is the time to do so, as the conference content is already live, enabling you to view video presentations for both oral and poster presentations.

The special session What is the future of communities’ and citizens’ “active involvement” in the delivery FCERM to support proactive resilience? What are the challenge and opportunities for research? will take place virtually on Thursday 24 June 2021 from 13:30 to 15:00.

The session will be led by Dr Clare Twigger-Ross, Dr Simon McCarthy, Dr Jonathan Simm, Paula Orr and Rolands Sadauskis

There is much discussion around the involvement citizens and communities in the delivery of flood resilience. There is some consensus that for flood risk management to be resilient it needs to focus on all aspects of resilience: resistance, adaptation and transformation.  In so doing diversity in flood risk management strategies becomes more important bringing with it multi-stakeholder and multi-level governance. Involving communities and citizens in the delivery of FCERM becomes central as flood risk is played out at the local level.   This interactive session draws on recent review work (Twigger-Ross et al, 2021 see link below) from England looking at the role of citizens and communities in flood and coastal erosion risk management activities, specifically in terms of managing uncertainty and future risks through adaptation and transformation (proactive resilience).  Whilst there is a clear pull in terms of legitimacy, normative and instrumental objectives for the increased involvement of communities and citizens in the delivery of FCERM, there are also clear challenges:  what does multi-stakeholder working look like in practice? Who gets heard? What evidence do we have that it increases resilience? How does the local link up with the national? What are the impacts on those  flood affected citizens who do get involved? Given that the focus of the evidence is on the UK this session will be an opportunity to compare and contrast evidence and  experiences from around the world.

The programme of this special session will include:

13.30 Introductions: Participants to enter in chat function their name, organisation, country, topics of interest

13.35 Current and possible futures for communities and citizens  Presentation (Dr. Clare Twigger-Ross, CEP) Dr Twigger-Ross will present from research carried out for the Environment Agency (England) as part of the development of the Communities and FCERM Research and Development Framework which was published in April 2021. She will present an overview of the work focussing on the three aims of the framework and the gaps identified within the areas of literature reviewed and the proposed areas for research specifically with a focus on proactive resilience – adaptation and transformation together with some key questions for the future of involvement. (20 mins)

13.55 Discussion in small groups: (the participants will be divided into small groups of 6 – 8 to discuss the following questions –each group will have a facilitator to aid the discussion and the Jamboard will be used to enable people to put up their views. The questions will be the following:

• How does what you have heard match with your understanding of the evidence?
• What do you see as the most important issues for research in this area?
• What do you see as the challenges for research in this area? 
• Where are there the opportunities?

The discussion in small groups will be for 20  minutes. This will be followed by a plenary session of 15  minutes to hear from each of the groups and to bring the ideas together.

14.25  Challenge Panel and discussion on Communities’ and citizens’ involvement challenges and Opportunities – Where next? – Key experts from different perspectives in FCERM (regulatory, academic, operational, and communities) including Prof Lindsay McEwen.  Each expert will be given 5 minutes to make their points and then there will be a chance for discussion. The session will last 40 minutes.

15.00 Round up and final points (5 minutes)
Before the session participants are encouraged to look at the publications from the research which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research-reports/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research-and-development-framework-working-with-communities

Please use the 'add to Schedule' button on the Special Session Programme, to register your interest in participating in this special session.

For more information visit the Special Session Hub and the webpage https://hub.floodrisk2020.net/theme/specials/role-of-communities/.

To access this page, you will need to be registered online. If you haven't done so yet, please Register Now Here. 

The special session ‘Love and hate’ relationship between Flood Risk Management and Natura2000!? will take place virtually on Wednesday 23 June 2021 from 16:00 to 17:30.

The session will be led by Harm Rinkel, Stephanie Janssen & Ellen Tromp

Across Europe countries are taking measures to reduce flood risk through dike reinforcement projects as part of the EU Water Framework Directive. On many locations, both in river and coastal areas, dike reinforcement efforts border or overlap Natura2000 areas. In the current situation dike managers experience difficulties and hurdles around the Natura2000 legislation. Different approaches and strategies are being developed to overcome these perceived challenges. Such approaches include strategies of complete avoidance of Natura2000 areas through a sole focus on dike structure as well as complete nature-inclusive flood risk reduction strategies.

In the special session on the ‘love and hate’ relationship between flood risk management and Natura2000 will be explored. We will discuss the scale and occurrence of the relationship and identify the challenges and opportunities it may offer. Different approaches to deal with Natura2000 in flood risk reduction are being showcased in case studies from different countries. Successful approaches will help safeguarding both threatened species and habitats as well as the inhabitants from flooding!

The Programme includes:

16:00     Opening and introduction
Setting the scene: Interaction with participants

16:20     Case study presentations & Discussions

Netherlands – a combined approach by Esther Dieker (Arcadis)
Dikes are located close to nature areas and both need improvement. Until recently nature restoration and dike improvements were considered in isolation from each other, despite the obvious connections. Dike improvements and nature restorations can benefit from a combined approach. In the presentation experiences are shown from two Dutch projects where this was done: the Lauwersmeer dike improvement project and the Water Framework Directive project for improvement of river forelands in the East of the Netherlands.

Germany – Saxony-Anhalt by Sven Schulz (Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Energy) and Thilo Weichel (State Agency for Flood Defence and Water Management of Saxony-Anhalt)
Saxony-Anhalt with more than 300km Elbe river is characterised of a high degree of lost of potential flood areas in the past. The extreme flood events in 2002 and 2013 with new records water levels clarified that rivers need their space. Based on this fact the programme “More space for rivers” was published in Saxony-Anhalt. Here a lot of projects are planning or already realized.

17:00    Group work – sharing experiences and best practices in combining Flood Risk Management and Natura2000

17:20    Session closure and next steps

Please use the 'add to Schedule' button on the Special Session Programme, to register your interest in participating in this special session.

For more information visit the Special Session Hub and the webpage https://hub.floodrisk2020.net/theme/specials/natura2000/.

To access this page, you will need to be registered online. If you haven't done so yet, please Register Now Here. 

The special session ‘International river management in the 21st century: challenges and cooperation?’ will take place virtually on Tuesday 22 June 2021 from 16:00 to 17:30.

The session will be lead by Adrian Schmid-Breton and Jan Kruijshoop, International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR)

What are the water management challenges facing (international) basins and what can they do to meet them? What can (international) river basins do to prepare and adapt to future changes?

Organised and moderated by the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine, the oldest international environmental river commission in the world, and accompanied by other river basin organisations from all over Europe this session address the issue of preparing (international) river basins for the effects of socio-economic and climatic changes, with consequences on discharge (floods, low water & droughts), the use of the water and water availability. To answer these challenges a strong cooperation within river basins is fundamental. Collaboration between river basins themselves could be also highly beneficial. The session goes beyond solely managing flood risks.

Leading question

“How can international river basin managers prepare for the future -in an integrated way-, in respect of mitigating or adapting the effects of socio-economic and climatic changes, with consequences on discharge (floods, low water & droughts), the use of the water and water availability?”

Sub-issues and particular questions addressed to the participants

1. What aspects of basin/water resource management will be impacted by socio-economic and climate change? How will this affect governance and management practices? Are there potential conflicts in sight? How can they be prevented or resolved? What is the added value of international river cooperation to answer these challenges?
2. How are international river basin organizations preparing themselves for these trends (good practice, projects, programs, …)? How are scenarios set up? Are there any examples of approaches combining/integrating the topics of flood, low water and drought?
3. When it comes to water scarcity/drought/low water, which impacts and potential issues need to be addressed? How can they be valued and thus prioritized? Which challenges does this pose from a stakeholder and governance point of view?
4. Is there interest in continuing the exchange or cooperation between participants (river management actors in a broad sense, basin organisations and international institutions) after FLOODrisk? For example, would you be interested in meeting (virtually) informally in the near future to continue our exchanges and to discuss the news and challenges of the basins/regions concerned? Should we start a joint program initiative, e.g. based on EU (Horizon2020, Green Deal, et cetera) or national initiatives?

Outcomes:

• For everyone to exchange and get mutual answers, information, experiences on the lead and sub-issues questions as well as confront ideas with others. By this means also get the right contacts for further exchanges.
• Input to the ICPR for the implementation of the Rhine 2040 programme.
• In the end, explore possibilities for future cooperation between the participants. The discussion could show that we would like to do something in common in the future (further exchanges, EU programmes, joint initiative etc.).

The programme will include:

90 minutes, web hosted meeting

• Introduction of the ICPR’s RHINE 2040 program and implementation pathways (20 minutes) (ICPR representative)
•  Round table and Q/A with representatives of (international) rivers in Europe and international organisations on the "leading question", the "sub-issues" (see above) and eventually questions from the public sent prior or in the session (40 minutes)
• Additional questions and discussions from/with the public/participants (20 minutes)
• Conclusion by ICPR on common approaches, differences, lessons learnt for future tasks as well as cooperation/exchange possibilities (eventually, planning a follow-up of FLOODrisk)   (10 minutes)

Please use the 'add to Schedule' button on the Special Session Programme, to register your interest in participating in this special session.

For more information visit the Special Session Hub and the webpage https://hub.floodrisk2020.net/theme/specials/rhine2040/.

To access this page, you will need to be registered online. If you haven't done so yet, please Register Now Here. 

The special session ‘Preparedness and response activities in the Danube Region’ will take place virtually on Tuesday 22 June 2021 from 13:30 to 15:00.

The session will be led by Laszlo Balatonyi and Gheorghe Constantin

The Preparedness and response activities in the Danube Region session aims at introducing the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) Environmental Risks Priority Area (PA5) and its Disaster Management Working Group (DM-WG). The focus will be tailored to preparedness and response activities, with special focus on Tailings Management and related initiatives of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) Accidental Pollution Control Expert Group (APC EG). The session will be concluded by sharing the latest information about possible funding instruments to achieve better preparedness and more effective response in the region.

• Introduction: of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, Environmental Risks Priority Area (05) Dr. László Balatonyi / Gheorghe Constantin
  • Challenges in the Danube Region –
  • Strategic partnership in the Danube Region: EUSDR PA5 – Dr. László Balatonyi
• Preparedness and response:
  • Remote sensing, as one of the potential technologies (Dr. Tibor Bíró, NUPS)
  • Case study of a tailing management facility disaster - consequences and overall effect on the Hungarian disaster response system (Kolontár, HU) tbc
  • The EUSDR PA5 Disaster Management Working Group – Zsolt Kelemen
  • Ongoing projects and funds related to Preparedness and response activities – Kinga Perge
• Activities of ICPDR APC EG
  • Tailing Management in the Danube Region – Ádám Kovács

Please use the 'add to Schedule' button on the Special Session Programme, to register your interest in participating in this special session.

For more information visit the Special Session Hub and the webpage https://hub.floodrisk2020.net/theme/specials/danube-region/.

To access this page, you will need to be registered online. If you haven't done so yet, please Register Now Here. 

The special session ‘An International Handbook for Emergency Response to Flood Risk - A call for collaboration’ will take place virtually on Wednesday 23 June 2021 from 16:00 to 17:30.

The session will be led by Wout de Vries and Ludolph Wentholt

Flood emergency response is an essential component of a flood risk strategy. Effective flood emergency response depends on implementing the appropriate measures, and on executing them correctly. The skills and expertise of emergency management teams play an important role in this response. It is crucial that all involved work along commonly agreed lines. To achieve this, an initiative is launched to arrive at an International Handbook for Emergency Response to Flood Risk. This handbook will provide good practices and will share lessons learnt from floods all over the world. Furthermore, the handbook will provide “commonly agreed lines” of emergency response. In this way, it will be an invaluable tool to train staff in the operation of flood fighting. In addition, it can be a very valuable tool for streamlining international assistance in real flood events.

This special session is an open invitation to join us in a coalition of the willing to arrive at the International Handbook for Emergency Response to Flood Risk. It can also be seen as a stepping stone towards the International Community of Practice of Flood Fighters.

The programme of this special session will include

16:00   Introductions - Participants to enter in chat function their name, organisation, country, topics of interest
16.10   Interactive introduction, including topics Why a Handbook,  Experience so far, Initial thoughts on the table of contents, Target audience, Expected outcome.
16:35   Practical aspects (interactive): How to arrive at a coalition, Position and future use of the Handbook, Proposed way of working, Roadmap to kickoff, other items to be considered.
17:00   Further discussion 
17:30   Closure

The hoped-for outcome of this session is to establish a community of experts who will work together on this Handbook.

Please use the 'add to Schedule' button on the Special Session Programme, to register your interest in participating in this special session.

For more information visit the Special Session Hub and the webpage hub.floodrisk2020.net/theme/specials/international-handbook/.

To access this page, you will need to be registered online. If you haven't done so yet, please Register Now Here.