Titolo della tesi: STUDY OF THE EXTREME RAINFALL EVENTS: RISK ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR PLUVIAL FLOODING IN URBAN AREAS
Urban flooding due to extreme rainfall events has become an increasingly pressing challenge, exacerbated by climate change and rapid urbanization. As precipitation patterns change and impermeable surfaces expand, the risk of pluvial flooding intensifies, often overwhelming urban drainage systems and causing localized flooding. These events not only threaten infrastructure and public safety but also impose significant economic burdens and disrupt essential urban functions. Addressing this issue requires a deeper understanding of flood dynamics and the development of innovative solutions to enhance resilience and mitigate risks effectively.
This research explores the assessment and mitigation of pluvial flooding in urban areas, proposing a multidisciplinary framework that integrates hydrological and hydraulic modelling with advanced risk analysis techniques. A key aspect of the study involves a comprehensive review of existing research on Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves, analyzing the different datasets and methodologies used for their derivation. Additionally, attention is given to studies focusing on the update of IDF curves in the context of climate change. Building on this analysis, the research develops a structured methodology for IDF curve determination, tailored specifically for urban drainage network analysis.
The study employs hydraulic and hydrological modelling to evaluate drainage system performance under extreme rainfall conditions and assess its vulnerabilities. To address flood risk reduction, both structural and non-structural mitigation strategies are analyzed. The research investigates the role of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), real-time control (RTC) systems, and flood hazard mapping in urban flood management. Furthermore, a regulatory and economic assessment was conducted to compare Hydrological and Hydraulic Invariance regional regulations in Italy, evaluating their implications on the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of Sustainable urban Drainage Systems (SuDS).
A practical component of this work is the optimization of urban drainage network, with a focus on managing excessive hydraulic loads that exceed the capacity of wastewater treatment facilities.
Through real-time control (RTC) applications and multi-objective optimization techniques, the study demonstrates how adaptive management strategies can mitigate flooding and improve overall system efficiency. The results underscore the importance of integrating RTC solutions within existing urban drainage frameworks to enhance flood resilience and operational stability.
By bridging the gap between theoretical modelling and real-world application, this research provides valuable insights into urban flood risk management. The findings contribute to the development of adaptive and sustainable drainage solutions, equipping policymakers, engineers, and urban planners with scientifically robust and practically implementable strategies.