The short course “Flood Risk Management” introduces the participants to the state-of-the-art concepts and practices of flood risk management. The course covers the European experience in managing floods and stresses in the use of the latest tools in flood risk management such as flood inundation modelling, flood risk mapping, flood hazard mapping and decision and evacuation support systems.

Learning objectives

Upon completion of the course, the participants will be able to:

understand and explain the main principles of flood risk management;
understand the Hydroinformatics tools available for flood risk management;
conceptualise the main principles of EU flood directive and have knowledge about European experience in flood risk management;
understand and explain the main principles of flood forecasting and warning and uncertainty issues associated with flood forecasts;
familiarise with the different flood forecasting models;
utilise their hands-on experience in the step-by-step modelling procedure to build flood inundation models, flood risk maps, flood hazard maps, etc..

Target group

The course is designed for current and future water professionals (engineers and scientists), decision-makers and others involved in flood modelling and flood management, particularly those who would like to be familiarise with the latest tools and techniques in flood risk management. Pre-requisites are knowledge about hydrology and hydraulics; some experiences with flood modelling/management is desirable but it is not a must.

Course content

The course will introduce the basic concepts of flood risk management and the latest tools and techniques available in managing flood risk. Specific contents are:

Introduction to flood risk management
Flood risk management in practice – the different models of FRM
The role of uncertainty in evaluating flood risks
Sources of risk and their quantification (including flash floods, flood hazard mapping and climate change impacts)
Risk pathways (including 2D flood inundation modelling and reliability analysis of flood defence structures)
Vulnerability (consequences on receptors): Risk perception, community behaviour and social resilience
Pre-flood measures in FRM: sustainability issues, long-term planning, flood forecasting and warning, flood risk maps
During flood measures in FRM (flood emergency response and evacuation planning)
Post flood measures (flood recovery)
EU framework directive on floods; other national (eg UK) flood directives. European experience in managing floods.

Examination

It is possible to take part in the examination of this short course. If you obtain a passing mark for this examination and return to UNESCO-IHE within four years after completion of the short course to follow a full MSc programme, you will receive exemption for this short course/module. The costs for this exam are €250 extra and should be borne by yourself. Taking part in the examination is not compulsory.