Abstract
This paper presents the initial results of a common methodology for the evaluation of damage produced by a flood. A model has been developed for flood damage estimation based on a geographic information system (GIS). It could be used by land administration bodies and insurance companies to manage flood-related damage data. The model simulates flood scenarios and evaluates expected economic losses from the impact of floodwaters on exposed elements, through the application of a computational model elaborated by GIS. During the development of the model, the Boesio Stream, a small watercourse flowing into Lake Maggiore (Lombardy, northern Italy) which was recently affected by a flash flood, was used as case study to test and calibrate the methodology. The method could be used either as a forecasting tool to define event scenarios, utilizing data from events simulated with a hydraulic model, or for real-time damage assessment after a disaster. The approach is suitable to large-area damage assessment and could be appropriate for land use planning, civil protection and risk mitigation.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank A. Zamperone for the hydrologic–hydraulic study and D. Alexander for their suggestions and revising the English text. A particular thanks for the collaboration to Philip J. Schneider, Director of the Multihazard Loss Estimation Program, National Institute of Building Sciences, Washington DC.
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Luino, F., Cirio, C.G., Biddoccu, M. et al. Application of a model to the evaluation of flood damage. Geoinformatica 13, 339–353 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10707-008-0070-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10707-008-0070-3