A multi-hazard and multi-risk assessment methodological approach to support Civil Protection planning in wide areas

The paper presents a study having as objective the development of an operational methodology to perform a multi-hazard and multi-risk assessment, including cascading hazards, to support Civil Protection planning in wide areas in Lombardia region. Natural hazards are mainly considered. A semi-quantitative, deterministic approach is adopted in a complete procedure, despite the awareness of current methodological and data barriers. The procedure is implemented in a GIS project, providing a flexible tool. Data are elaborated and represented in minimum cartographic units defined as hexagonal cells. Multi-hazard levels measure the number of spatial overlays and interactions among possible hazards in each cell. Due to lack of data and applicable methodol ogies, the value of vulnerability to multiple and to multi-hazard, is fixed as a conventional constant equal to 1. Exposure levels measure the presences in each cell of different elements: population, built environment, mobility systems, strategic and relevant facilities for Civil Pro tection purposes. The combination of multi-hazard and exposure levels, through a specifically designed matrix, gives as result the multi-risk levels (high, medium, low) in each cell. The methodology has been applied in different areas of Lombardia region and the case study of the Brembana valley is presented in this paper. Being a novel approach, this study sets the basis for further developments, enabling, due to its structure, enhancements through integrations and refinements in each phase

Years of life that could be saved from prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) causes premature death and loss of life expectancy worldwide. Its primary and secondary prevention can result in a significant number of years of life saved. AIM: To assess how many years of life are lost after HCC diagnosis. METHODS: Data from 5346 patients with first HCC diagnosis were used to estimate lifespan and number of years of life lost after tumour onset, using a semi-parametric extrapolation having as reference an age-, sex- and year-of-onset-matched population derived from national life tables. RESULTS: Between 1986 and 2014, HCC lead to an average of 11.5 years-of-life lost for each patient. The youngest age-quartile group (18-61 years) had the highest number of years-of-life lost, representing approximately 41% of the overall benefit obtainable from prevention. Advancements in HCC management have progressively reduced the number of years-of-life lost from 12.6 years in 1986-1999, to 10.7 in 2000-2006 and 7.4 years in 2007-2014. Currently, an HCC diagnosis when a single tumour <2 cm results in 3.7 years-of-life lost while the diagnosis when a single tumour 65 2 cm or 2/3 nodules still within the Milan criteria, results in 5.0 years-of-life lost, representing the loss of only approximately 5.5% and 7.2%, respectively, of the entire lifespan from birth. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence results in the loss of a considerable number of years-of-life, especially for younger patients. In recent years, the increased possibility of effectively treating this tumour has improved life expectancy, thus reducing years-of-life lost

Cross-border impacts on Networks due to natural hazards

Incidents involving networks delivering essential services to society across two or more countries are witnessed in the everyday life of citizens whenever exceptional weather conditions disrupt transport, power or telecommunication systems close to a border. Yet it proved to be more difficult than initially envisaged to compile a list of major transboundary incidents informed by official and reliable sources. It proved equally challenging to account for current examples of governance arrangements providing joint assistance to population, businesses, and services across borders in Europe. The study makes an effort to provide first a conceptual framework for defining cross-border impacts, building on existing classifications of interdependencies and types of impacts available in literature. It then illustrates risk assessment and management methods and discusses the need to complement the latter with a resilience approach. Reasons for embracing resilience thinking are the increasing complexity of networks and the environment in which they operate, the dynamicity of both threats and systemic vulnerability of those and of sectors that depend on them for their own functioning. Because of such complexity and dynamicity not all threats, failures and impacts can be fully envisaged and anticipated. Therefore, avoiding catastrophic modes of failure and recovering in the smoothest possible way, which are the essence of resilience, become key concerns for utilities’ providers and for society at large.JRC.E.1 - Disaster Risk Managemen

Cross-border and emerging risks in Europe

In this report, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) expands its exploration of complex disaster risks that transcend national borders and introduce novel challenges to the European Union. Taking stock of previous JRC flagship reports on understanding risks (Science for Disaster Risk Management Book Series and the Recommendations for National Risk Assessment Versions 0 and 1), this document addresses the multi-faceted nature of cross-border and emerging risks in Europe. The report collects the contributions from expert teams across 8 JRC directorates and external partners. It analyses the current landscape of risks characterized by their potential for widespread impact across the continent, necessitating a coordinated European response. The work leverages historical data and recent scientific advances that address both cross-border risks such as natural disasters and anthropogenic crises, and emerging risks that include technological and socio-economic challenges. This comprehensive assessment helps in understanding and managing cross-border and emerging risks, including environmental, health, and technological threats. It emphasizes the importance of integrated approaches and improved data sharing to better anticipate and prepare for potential disasters. The findings advocate for the incorporation of transboundary considerations in risk management strategies to effectively handle the interconnected and complex nature of today's risks. Emerging from an increased need for an integrated approach in disaster risk management (DRM), this report underscores the importance of the EU's continued research on understanding the root causes of risks and in adaptation and mitigation strategies to enhance resilience.JRC.E.1 - Disaster Risk Managemen

The Sernaglia della Battaglia flood control reservoir on the Patean Creek

reservedLa tesi verterà sull'analisi della cassa di laminazione presente a Sernaglia della Battaglia. Inizialmente verrà svolto uno studio generale sul problema delle piene e degli allagamenti e sulle attuali soluzioni adottate per tali problemi. Successivamente verrà analizzata specificamente la cassa di laminazione di Sernaglia, sviluppando i dati tecnici, le analisi ideologiche e le verifiche Idrauliche del funzionamento della cassa

Supporting Critical Entities Resilience to natural risks through urban planning

The Biennial of European Cities and Town Planners is an event of the European Council of Town Planners ECTP-CEU that aims to discuss the main issues in the European debate related to urban planning by sharing them with urban planners, architects, engineers, economists, sociologists, architectural historians, citizens, politicians, private and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The papers contained in this Catalogue cover the theme "Inclusive Cities and Regions/ Territoires inclusifs," chosen for the 14th edition, organized April 22-24, 2024, in Naples with INU as the main organizer. Inclusion is understood in its multiple declinations that define the 10 overarching themes of this Biennial - Regional Issues and Regional Inequality, Metropolitan or City Proposals, Urban Regeneration and Public Spaces, Migration and Cultural Inclusion, Cultural Heritage, Resilience and Adaptation, New Economic Approaches, IT and the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Planning, Ports, Airports and Other Infrastructure, and Underground Space - and in others proposed by participants that further specify the overarching themes

Uso del suolo e riduzione del rischio naturale in ambito urbano. Conoscenza, metodo e strumenti per la ridefinizione funzionale preventiva.

La crescente consapevolezza che eventi naturali disastrosi non sono né inevitabili né incontrollabili ma che è l’interazione con il contesto sociale, politico ed economico in cui si verificano a rendere calamitoso un fenomeno naturale quale un terremoto, un’inondazione o una tempesta, rende fondamentale la definizione di opportune politiche, strategie e azioni di gestione, finalizzate a ridurre potenziali condizioni di rischio e a incrementare il livello generale di sicurezza dell’habitat umano. In tal senso, la pianificazione urbanistica viene attualmente riconosciuta, nell’ambito di politiche di Riduzione del Rischio naturale (Disaster Risk Reduction, DRR), come efficace soluzione preventiva a lungo termine. In particolare, a fronte della crescente esposizione a rischio della popolazione urbana (Esposizione urbana), è possibile pensare a una strategia pianificatoria di Ridefinizione Funzionale preventiva che, in accordo con il principio di temporaneità e di Indifferenziazione funzionale che caratterizza la città flessibile, propone di ridurre l’Esposizione urbana mediante cambi di destinazione d’uso tra funzioni urbane che si caratterizzano per un differente valore di esposizione. L’attuazione di tale strategia richiede l’esistenza di un livello di conoscenza (Knowledge) delle condizioni di rischio e di tutte le sue componenti, in particolare della localizzazione e distribuzione della popolazione in un contesto territoriale caratterizzato da determinati livelli di pericolosità. Un numero crescente di dataset spaziali, ottenuti mediante utilizzo integrato di sorgenti di dati di popolazione (indagini statistiche, immagini satellitari, Big Data e iniziative di Crowdsourcing), possono fornire svariate informazioni utilizzabili per valutare il livello di Esposizione e Rischio di un dato contesto urbano. Diventa allora fondamentale comprendere se e come gli attuali strumenti presenti in letteratura possano essere efficacemente utilizzati per valutare opportune scelte localizzative e di uso del suolo capaci di ridurre il livello di Rischio urbano, limitando potenziali perdite in conseguenza di eventi naturali estremi