VISFRIM

The specific objectives of the project were: 

1. Development of methodologies and tools for the shared management of flood risk in cross-border basins

2. Implementation of structural and non-structural flood risk mitigation measures

For these purposes, the following tasks were carried out:

1. the elaboration of guidelines regarding the use of drones in cross-border areas (WP 3.1)

This deliverable is intended to provide a practical guideline outlining the ordinary procedures that can be adopted for transboundary UAS operations, namely operations that involves Unmanned Aircraft Systems flying across the border between Italy and Slovenia. The twofold advantages resulting from transboundary UAS operations within the scope of the VISFRIM project are: improving flood modelling through transboundary-continuous digital terrain models, rather than national, border-cut digital terrain models; supporting environmental monitoring, such as for mapping of flooded unurbanized territories.

2. the realization of numerous topographic surveys in the Vipacco and Lemene basin (WP 3.1)

The topographical survey of nineteen river cross sections was planned on the Vipava river. In detail the survey campaign was linked to a previous one, performed on the Isonzo river in 2014 during the Interreg CAMIS project, and the levelling line from the Gradisca bridge was extended until the state border.

In addition an altimetric support network was defined on the Lemene river basin for the subsequent survey of 430 river cross sections. Specifically, 112 new leveling benchmarks were defined, 35 of which constitute the new connecting line between Pordenone and Portogruaro. Starting from the abovementioned levelling line, further high precision surveys were extended also towards: hydrometric stations installed inside the Lemene catchment; some monitoring sites managed by the Veneto Orientale Land Reclamation Consortium.

3. the installation of two hydrometric monitoring sensors in the Lemene basin (WP 3.1)

Eastern Alps River Basin District (AAWA) worked to the installation of two new stream gauges inside the Lemene basin, whose records are intended:

3. • to be exploited for calibrating/validating the flood simulation model, planned to be developed in WP 3.1 - Flood Risk Management Related Preparatory Activities, Task 1- Collection and harmonization process of existing data, measurements, studies and other Flood Risk management related material;
   • to populate the web-platform for archiving and visualizing flood-related data (as information from physical and social sensors, results of flood simulation models, etc), planned to be implemented in WP 3.3 - Development of an Innovative Two Way Flood Risk Communication Environment in Transboundary River Basins, Task 2 - Design of the software architecture and prototyping.
4. the collection and harmonization of numerous data relating to floods for the Lemene and Vipacco basins and the subsequent publication on interactive webgis (WP 3.1 / WP 3.3)

• https://vode.arso.gov.si/visfrim/sl/
• https://webgis2.cittametropolitana.ve.it/lizmap/index.php/view/map?repository=visfrim&project=Visfrim_Lemene_public
• https://idt2.regione.veneto.it/idt/webgis/viewer?webgisId=142
• https://co-visfrim.it 

5. the development of flood modeling activities for the Vipava basin (WP 3.1)

Several hydrological and hydraulic modelling activities were performed for the Vipava river, based on which agreed consensus was reached between the two involved water authorities (Slovenia: DSRV; Italia: AAWA), which is that 100-year return period discharge at the Italian-Slovenian border is estimated to be in the range between 480 m3/s to 600 m3/s. This uncertainty will be reduced in future with greater number of hydrometric observations and updating of hydrological analysis by Slovene counterpart.

6. the development of flood modeling activities for the Lemene basin (WP 3.1)

Various hydraulic modeling activities were carried out for the Lemene basin. First achieved results were encouraging and pointed out the need of broadening existing knowledge by: the installation of new gauging stations; the realization of surveys and meetings with local stakeholders, aimed at collecting useful information about hydraulic criticalities; the realization of numerous topographical activities to update the geometry of the river system.

Modeling activities, implemented in the project VISFRIM, will continue in next months with the aim of updating the picture of the hydraulic hazard for the entire basin.

7. the development of a software for the cost-benefit analysis of flood mitigation measures (WP 3.2)

Internal staff from Eastern Alps River Basin District (AAWA) elaborated and shared a report about methodologies for flood risk mapping and cost-benefit analysis of mitigation measures, based on which one IT platform was later developed.

8. the realization of a series of geognostic analysis of some river trunks inside the Lemene basin and the consequent elaboration of intervention proposals (WP 3.2)

Veneto region ordered the realization of a series of surveys on some river levees located in the southern portion of the Lemene River Basin and the successive elaboration of possible intervention proposals, including cost’s estimation.

9. the elaboration of studies functional for the next construction of flood mitigation works in the municipality of Vipava (WP 3.2)

For selected areas in the municipality of Vipava, hydrological and hydraulic analysis were prepared by external consultants about the implementation of flood mitigation measures. Descriptions are given for all measures, including the basic characteristics of the proposals (dimensions, geometry, location, etc). All the proposed measures aim to improve flood safety in selected areas, while minimally interfering in the watercourse riverbeds, thus preserving the habitats and morphology of existing watercourses.

The elaborated study is the basis for determining the necessary order of priority of flood protection measures and to apply for building permit.

10. the elaboration of a study functional for drafting the municipal act on navigation for the municipality of Nova Gorica (WP 3.2)

The Municipality of Nova Gorica ordered the elaboration of technical documentation for the regulation of navigation along the Vipava river. It analyses the subject area and external factors that can affect the possibility of navigation, included river flooding. This analysis is the basis for: planning navigation activities and its regime; determining the navigation area and entry/exit points. As such, the document represents the professional basis for the preparation of the local community's act on navigation in the area of the municipality.

11. the development of green information and communication technologies (ICT) as part of a non-structural flood mitigation measure, known as Citizen Observatory (WP 3.3)

The activities included in this WP are aimed at implementing a Citizens’ Observatory inside the case studies of the project, through which a greater involvement of population in water governance processes could be achieved by exploiting the potential of green Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Specifically this report refers to the activities performed in the Italian (Lemene catchment) and Slovene case study (Isonzo catchment): raising awareness activities and requirements specification; design of the software architecture and prototyping; implementation of a Citizens’ Observatory in the pilot and analysis of citizens' feedback.

12. the construction of four small-scale no-regret flood risk reduction measures in the municipalities of Nova Gorica, Miren-Kostanjevica, Šempter-Vrtojba and Postojna (WP 4)

The structural interventions were designed in order to reduce the environmental impact, while still guaranteeing the necessary protection from flooding. In particular, natural and sustainable materials were used (local wood and stones) and existing infrastructures were recovered, where possible and economically convenient.

For more information, it is possible to view the reports available in the "Project documents" section of the website.