Flood risk awareness and management – research at the University of Wrocław
Dr Anna Grochowska from the Department of Spatial Planning of the UWr Institute of Geography and Regional Development, together with a team of dr hab. Sylwia Dołzbłasz, prof. UWr (UWr Department of Land Management), dr Aneta Marek (UWr Department of Regional Geography and Tourism), and prof. Francesco Pagliacci (Università degli Studi di Padova), received a NAWA 2024 Intervention Grant in January for the project: ‘Flood risk awareness and management: the analysis of the effectiveness of measures and public perception’.
The research project aims to analyse flood risk awareness among people who have directly experienced flooding, to assess the actions taken by the authorities and to identify key problems and gaps in the warning and information systems of the population.
The project aims to gauge not only opinions on the effectiveness of the measures but also to conclude areas for improvement in crisis communication and flood risk management.
Dr Anna Grochowska directs the Social Participation Workshop, which is based at the Department of Spatial Planning, and in the grant application she referred to this activity in her affiliation.
The project fits into the context of spatial planning, where it is crucial to take environmental risks, such as flooding, into account when shaping urban structures and managing the development of at-risk areas.
The study will gather data on risk perception and the effectiveness of interventions to support decision-making in spatial planning and management of areas at particular risk of flooding.
The study will be carried out in Kłodzka Valley, which was unusually hard hit by flooding in September 2024, making it a particularly relevant area for spatial planning and risk management. The Kłodzka region is exposed to frequent and violent flood events, so an analysis of the experiences of residents and their perception of risk will provide valuable data that can support decision-making processes related to the planning and management of areas of special flood risk.
In the near future, the researchers will be holding meetings and discussing with local leaders, representatives of local governments, and organisations operating in Kłodzka Valley. – These activities aim to establish collaborations, obtain permission to carry out field research and build a support network necessary for its effective implementation – explains the project manager. – It will be crucial to present the project’s objectives, including those of increasing flood risk awareness and improving disaster management.
The project partner – the University of Padua – is one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Europe, known for its high level of research and its interdisciplinary approach to solving complex social and environmental problems. Within the university is the Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali, which specialises in the study of natural resource management, spatial planning, and sustainable rural and urban development. The department has extensive experience in emergency management and climate resilience projects, making it an ideal partner for the flood risk awareness and management project. Prof. Francesco Pagliacci, who is a member of the department’s staff, is a renowned researcher in the field of agricultural economics and rural development. His expertise includes analysis of the vulnerability of agricultural systems to climate change, including adaptation strategies and tools to improve resilience to water hazards. Francesco has been involved in numerous European projects such as SPONGESCAPES and BEWARE, which focuses on hydrometeorological risk management and the implementation of nature-based solutions. His interdisciplinary approach, based on the application of advanced econometric and spatial techniques, brings unique competencies that will contribute significantly to the project’s objectives, particularly in the area of public perception and effectiveness of flood risk measures.
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Date of publication: 11.03.2025
Added by: M.J.
Translated by Marcelina Kida (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.
