A unified framework for the assessment of multiple source urban flash flood hazard: the case study of Monza, Italy

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to analyze the flood hazard in the city of Monza, which periodically suffers from overflows from both the river Lambro and the urban drainage system during wet weather conditions. A unified Urban Flash Flood Model of Monza is therefore developed to capture both sources of hazard. The model is first validated by comparing the results of simulations with historical data related to the area of Monza, then is exploited to obtain maximum flood depth and velocity maps for three different return periods. Overall, the results show the different nature of the flood-related hazard and the sewer-related hazard: the former is concentrated across the rivers whereas the latter spreads patchy over the territory. Furthermore, the former features much larger water levels and flow velocities, which result in more serious hazard to citizens.

KEYWORDS:

• Flooding
• inundation
• urban drainage system
• Italy

Acknowledgements

This work was carried out in the context of the NEWFRAME project, funded by Cariplo (reference number 2017-0724).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

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Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fondazione Cariplo [2017-0724].