Development of a methodology for assessing the extent of erosion processes and mapping the fluvial erosion hazard in areas of inland water and sea flooding

Description:

The concept of flood risk management should encompass an assessment of fluvial erosion processes linked to flood water characteristics as a crucial element of flood risk identification. However, estimating the expected extent of erosion processes can be challenging when analyzing the spatial dimension of flood risks, especially in relation to specific hydraulic conditions. In Slovenia, the river network has a dominantly torrential character, which results in a rapid rise of flood waters, high and spatially highly variable velocity, and direction of flow. These hydraulic conditions are particularly problematic in view of fluvial erosion processes. In addition, practical engineering problems that involve intervention in areas exposed to flood risks often require an assessment of fluvial erosion processes and processes of sea coast erosion. These processes can significantly impact the mechanical and geotechnical conditions for construction of infrastructure and structures.

The proposed research project aims at developing a methodology for analyzing the intensity of fluvial erosion processes along the Slovenian river network and the Slovenian coast. This will be achieved through a review of foreign scientific and professional literature, as well as the project team’s research and practical experience. The proposed methodology aims to enhance the assessment and mapping of erosion hazard areas caused by inland water and sea flooding at various scales. This will be achieved by integrating available field data on erosion processes, analyzing historical hydromorphological changes, and incorporating hydraulic modelling results. Practical examples will be presented to illustrate these steps, focusing on characteristic river sections. The examples will cover knowledge of flood conditions, specific characteristics of floodplains (such as land use, pedology, and presence of various infrastructures), and the extent of erosion processes in the river’s catchment areas. The proposed methodology will assist professionals in evaluating erosion processes along inland waters and the sea in a more credible manner. This will provide improved guidance for spatial development and water management planning.

Main goals:

1) Analysis of foreign practices, guidelines and relevant foreign scientific and professional literature, providing guidance for identifying fluvial erosion processes and assessing the intensity and spatial extent of river and sea erosion.

2) Establishing an overview of known past flood events with possible data on the amount of eroded and deposited material and assessing the reliability of such data.

3) Analysis of the impact of flood waters on erosion processes in agricultural areas.

4) Development of a methodology for assessing the intensity of erosion processes and mapping of erosion hazard areas of inland waters and the sea.

Project packages:

Work Package 1: Review of relevant national and international literature and practices

Work Package 2: Development of a methodology for the assessment of the intensity of erosion processes and the mapping of erosion hazard areas of inland waters and the sea

Work Package 3: Testing and harmonization of the methodology, analysis of selected sample cases

Work Package 4: Synthesis of the proposed methodology and dissemination