132
6 Prospects: Approaches of Integrated Management
emphasized. Within the second strategy technical measures have to be taken to prevent surprises, and for the third it is recommended that the individual and institutional capacities
be strengthened and technical measures to restrict the damages be taken.
Further essential component is the knowledge and evaluation of the vulnerability of
coastal zones, which refers directly to the second term of the risk formula. For example, various aspects of vulnerability to climate change impacts are outlined in Klein
and Nicholls (1999). An overview on state of the art for regional and local vulnerability assessment can be found in Sterr et al. (2000). The overview proposes an integrated
process to identify the most appropriate coastal adaptation strategy. Sterr et al. (2000)
evaluated two approaches to assess the vulnerability of coastal regions: the IPCC Common Methodology for Assessing the Vulnerability of Coastal Areas to Sea-Level Rise
(result of the application for The Netherlands the ISOS-study by Peerbolte et al. 1991)
and the methodology developed by UNEP which is based on the IPCC methodology. Several disadvantages have been identified, such as shortage of accurate and complete data
or that the methodology is “less effective in assessing the wide range of technical, institutional, economic and cultural elements present in different localities” (Sterr et al.,
2000, p. 5). Therefore, a conceptual framework for coastal vulnerability assessment was
suggested to overcome the deficiency of the existing methodologies (Fig. 6.4). The framework is divided into the socio-economic and the natural system, since the assessment
has to incorporate both sides of the coin. Climate change and the consequential sea level
rise impose effects on both systems, and both systems have different means of reacting
or adapting to changing circumstances. Sterr et al. (2000, p. 14) concluded that “coastal
adaptation requires data and information on coastal characteristics and dynamics, patterns of human behavior, as well as an understanding of the potential consequences of
climate change. It is also essential that there is a general awareness amongst the public and coastal planners and managers of these consequences and of the possible need
to act”.
Integrated Flood Risk Management
Coming back to the FloodSite project flood risk management has been defined as holistic
and continuous analysis, assessment and reduction of flood risk consisting of different
compartments: risk analysis, risk assessment and risk reduction – see Schanze (2006).
First step is to determine the hazard which could threat the area either by fluvial, pluvial or tidal flooding. Within the determination the probability should be the main aspect
of investigation. In case of a failure of a dike, for example, the topography is a crucial parameter for the exposure to inundation. Based on the results of the hazard determination the
vulnerability has to be assessed. In the previous section the process of vulnerability assessment has been touched. Finally, the combination of hazard and vulnerability determination
will lead to the estimated risk.
The compartment of risk assessment comprises the perception and the weighting of
risks. The process of weighting risks will not be touched in detail in this book, but elements
and aspects discussed in Sect. 7.3 could be used to initiate such a process.
6 Prospects: Approaches of Integrated Management
emphasized. Within the second strategy technical measures have to be taken to prevent surprises, and for the third it is recommended that the individual and institutional capacities
be strengthened and technical measures to restrict the damages be taken.
Further essential component is the knowledge and evaluation of the vulnerability of
coastal zones, which refers directly to the second term of the risk formula. For example, various aspects of vulnerability to climate change impacts are outlined in Klein
and Nicholls (1999). An overview on state of the art for regional and local vulnerability assessment can be found in Sterr et al. (2000). The overview proposes an integrated
process to identify the most appropriate coastal adaptation strategy. Sterr et al. (2000)
evaluated two approaches to assess the vulnerability of coastal regions: the IPCC Common Methodology for Assessing the Vulnerability of Coastal Areas to Sea-Level Rise
(result of the application for The Netherlands the ISOS-study by Peerbolte et al. 1991)
and the methodology developed by UNEP which is based on the IPCC methodology. Several disadvantages have been identified, such as shortage of accurate and complete data
or that the methodology is “less effective in assessing the wide range of technical, institutional, economic and cultural elements present in different localities” (Sterr et al.,
2000, p. 5). Therefore, a conceptual framework for coastal vulnerability assessment was
suggested to overcome the deficiency of the existing methodologies (Fig. 6.4). The framework is divided into the socio-economic and the natural system, since the assessment
has to incorporate both sides of the coin. Climate change and the consequential sea level
rise impose effects on both systems, and both systems have different means of reacting
or adapting to changing circumstances. Sterr et al. (2000, p. 14) concluded that “coastal
adaptation requires data and information on coastal characteristics and dynamics, patterns of human behavior, as well as an understanding of the potential consequences of
climate change. It is also essential that there is a general awareness amongst the public and coastal planners and managers of these consequences and of the possible need
to act”.
Integrated Flood Risk Management
Coming back to the FloodSite project flood risk management has been defined as holistic
and continuous analysis, assessment and reduction of flood risk consisting of different
compartments: risk analysis, risk assessment and risk reduction – see Schanze (2006).
First step is to determine the hazard which could threat the area either by fluvial, pluvial or tidal flooding. Within the determination the probability should be the main aspect
of investigation. In case of a failure of a dike, for example, the topography is a crucial parameter for the exposure to inundation. Based on the results of the hazard determination the
vulnerability has to be assessed. In the previous section the process of vulnerability assessment has been touched. Finally, the combination of hazard and vulnerability determination
will lead to the estimated risk.
The compartment of risk assessment comprises the perception and the weighting of
risks. The process of weighting risks will not be touched in detail in this book, but elements
and aspects discussed in Sect. 7.3 could be used to initiate such a process.