Universiẗat, Diss., 2006--Regensburg.

In den 10 Jahren, die seit dem Extremhochwasser in Sachsen vergangen sind, wurde viel für den Hochwasserschutz getan: die Vorhersage, die Kommunikation sowie die Hochwasserschutzanlagen wurden verbessert und es wurden neue Deiche sowie Hochwasserrückhaltebecken errichtet oder angepasst. Eine wichtige Frage ist aber, wie sich das Hochwasserbewusstsein der potenziell betroffenen Bevölkerung entwickelt hat. Im Beitrag wird der Frage nachgegangen, ob die Lehren von 2002 in Erinnerung sind und weitergegeben wurden oder ob das Hochwasserbewusstsein nachgelassen hat und man sich angesichts besseren Schutzes in Sicherheit wiegt.

In recent years, coastal regions worldwide have experienced some of the most devastating hurricanes, such as Harvey and Ida, which resulted in immense human and capital loss. Unfortunately, global climate change, particularly sea-level rise, only amplifies their consequences since hurricanes and the associated storm-induced flooding become more frequent and deadlier. The goal of my work is to develop and implement tools towards effective strategies for resilient and sustainable cities, against storm hazards amidst climate change. We propose a comprehensive optimization framework to search, evaluate, and optimize over a multitude of potential solutions, under various budget and societal constraints. Our models yield significant monetary and efficiency improvements, and importantly, are created and updated based on stakeholders’ feedback (e.g., mayor’s office, transportation agencies, etc.). Case studies in New York City will be demonstrated.

Klimatische und gesellschaftliche Veränderungsprozesse sind Herausforderungen, die den gegenwärtig zunehmenden Bedarf an Konzepten und Maßnahmen zur Reduzierung hochwasserinduzierter Risiken insbesondere für die gebaute Umwelt unterstreichen. Eine Handlungsalternative bildet die Implementierung konstruktiver Maßnahmen des hochwasserangepassten Bauens, die zu einer Minderung der Schadensanfälligkeit bestehender Gebäude führen. Derzeit fehlen jedoch Verfahren, um die Effekte derartiger Maßnahmen zu beurteilen. Die vorliegende Dissertationsschrift beleuchtet in einer Experimentalstudie zunächst das Systemverhalten gefügter Außenwandkonstruktionen bei definierten Hochwasserbeanspruchungen. Zu den Zielen der Experimentalstudie gehören die Analyse der konstruktionsspezifischen Feuchteverteilung bei mehrtägiger, ein- und zweiseitiger Wasserbeanspruchung sowie die Untersuchung der Wasserdurchlässigkeit. Zu den üblichen Außenwandkonstruktionen, welche durch ihre signifikante räumliche Verbreitung und häufige Ausführung geprägt sind, zählen sowohl ein- als auch mehrschalige Mauerwerkskonstruktionen aus überwiegend mineralischen Baustoffen. Das Versuchsprogramm umfasst acht Schichtenfolgen üblicher Mauerwerkskonstruktionen, die den allgemein anerkannten Regeln der Technik entsprechen. Darauf aufbauend steht die Untersuchung der Wirkungszusammenhänge zwischen dem dokumentierten Feuchteverhalten und dessen nachteiligen Folgen im Mittelpunkt. Die anschließende systematische Ermittlung und Beurteilung der Schadensanfälligkeit bestehender Mauerwerkskonstruktionen basiert auf der Nutzwertmethode, welche die nachteiligen Veränderungen der Eigenschaftswerte anhand von insgesamt elf identifizierten Kriterien bewertet. Auf der Basis der Labor- und Bewertungsergebnisse lassen sich für die untersuchten Baukonstruktionen exemplarische Anpassungsoptionen ableiten, die im Hinblick auf die Minderung zukünftiger Hochwasserschäden eine geeignete Konstruktionslösung darstellen. Anhand des verwendeten methodischen Ansatzes kann somit die Wirkung verschiedener baukonstruktiver Maßnahmen, bezogen auf die Verringerung des Risikos, eingeschätzt werden.

Floods are natural phenomena which are a threat to human settlements. Flooding can result in costly repairs to buildings, loss of business and, in some cases, loss of life. The forecasts for climate change show a further increased risk of flooding in future years. Accordingly, the flooding of residential property has been observed as on the rise in the UK. It is difficult to prevent floods from occurring, but the effects of flooding can be managed in an attempt to reduce risks and costs of repair. This can be achieved through ensuring a good understanding of the problem, and thereby establishing good management systems which are capable of dealing with all aspects of the flood. The use of an intelligent system for assessment and remediation of buildings subjected to flooding damage can facilitate the management of this problem. Such a system can provide guidance for the assessment of vulnerability and the repair of flood damaged residential buildings; this could save time and money through the use of the advantages and benefits offered by knowledge base systems. A prototype knowledge base system has been developed in this research. The system comprises three subsystems: degree of vulnerability assessment subsystem; remediation options subsystem; and foundation damage assessment subsystem. The vulnerability assessment subsystem is used to calculate the degree of vulnerability, which will then be used by the remediation options subsystem to select remediation options strategy. The vulnerability assessment subsystem can subsequently be used to calculate the degree to which the building is vulnerable to damage by flooding even if it is not flooded. Remediation options subsystem recommended two strategy options: either ordinary remediation options in the case of vulnerability being low or, alternatively, resilience remediation options in the case of vulnerability being high. The foundation damage assessment subsystem is working alone and is used to assess the damage caused by flooding to the building s foundation, and to thereby recommend a repair option based on the damage caused and foundation type. The system has been developed based on the knowledge acquired from different sources and methods, including survey questionnaires, documents, interviews, and workshops. The system is then evaluated by experts and professionals in the industry. The developed system makes a contribution in the management and standardisation of residential building flooded damage and repair.

Flooding is a global challenge that has plagued mankind throughout history, affecting over 164 million people worldwide in 2007 alone. As the frequency of flooding increases in England and Wales coupled with an increase in the number of properties at risk of flooding and the attendant huge (insured) economic costs of flooding, the services received by homeowners during flood damage repair works, have not been spared criticism, Both the Welsh Consumer Council report and the Warwickshire Trading Standards report raised serious questions about the level of service in insurance claims for the repair of flood-damaged domestic property. This research project was therefore aimed at investigating the level of service quality and determinants of homeowners’ satisfaction in England and Wales with respect to flood damage repair works during insurance claims. A comprehensive literature review was conducted on customers’ needs, satisfaction and service quality, flooding and related issues, and the repair of flood damaged domestic property, in order to set the framework for the research and shape the development of the research questions/hypotheses. The study employed a two-phased sequential mixed methods approach, commencing with 20 in-depth interviews with homeowners, repairers, insurers and loss adjusters. Findings from the initial exploratory study (and from the literature review) informed the development of a questionnaire instrument, which incorporated elements of SERVQUAL, the generic service quality measurement instrument. Survey data were collected for the quantitative phase of the study from a sample of 126 homeowners, which was then analysed to test the hypotheses put forward in the study. The data did not yield a set of reliable and interpretable factors of service quality from the three service quality scales used to measure homeowners’ perceptions of the performance of insurers, loss adjusters and contractors. However, of the three key service providers, the contractor’s performance was the best predictor of homeowners’ overall satisfaction during flood damage reinstatement claims, accounting for seven times the combined unique contribution of insurance and loss adjusting firms. In addition, satisfaction levels were significantly different for homeowners whose claims for repair works were completed within six months compared to those repairs exceeded twelve months. The thesis concludes with implications of the findings for practice as well as recommendations for further research. It is argued that knowledge of the determinants of homeowners’ satisfaction with services during the repair of flood damaged property, is beneficial not only to insurers, loss adjusters and repairers but to homeowners as well.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies (GAES). Johannesburg, October 2017. / Climate and weather-related impacts have become widespread particularly affecting the tourism industry. Changes in the climate and weather lead to changes in tourist seasons, products and travel opportunities. Flooding has gained research attention over the past decade, since the destruction creates many challenges for tourism businesses. Floods are a growing global problem, increasing in terms of frequency of occurrence, property damages, business economic losses, and fatalities. South Africa has begun to experience many annual flood events both coastal and in-land, but the Limpopo Province has been declared as flood disaster area, since the increase in temperatures and precipitation. Interest now lies on how particular tourist destinations in the Limpopo Province can adapt to reduce flooding risks whilst increasing opportunities mainly for the economy. Debates around flooding costs, recovery processes, and adaptive capacities affirm to be more challenging for the tourism accommodation sector. The study aimed to explore the perceived flooding impacts on different types of tourist accommodation. Thus, to determine if floods hindered any tourist bookings, offerings, and tourist length of stay. The exploration verified the possible flood risks to vulnerable accommodation and no adequate adaptation plans. A purposeful sample of 145 tourist accommodation businesses located across three flood-prone regions of the Limpopo Province were selected to answer a semi-structured questionnaire to put across their flooding experiences from a management perspective. The semi-structured questionnaire was combined with telephone interviews and email responses. Coherent theme development within the theoretical framework was achieved through content analysis. Content analysis allowed for the critical discussion of deductive and inductive themes found in the results. Floods during peak-seasons threaten and affect tourist accommodation, leaving them behind in business. Those not affected benefit with increased tourist demand and new opportunities in the hospitality industry. Tourist accommodation businesses are exposed to flood risks and experience challenges to assess, recover and adapt from the direct and indirect impacts. Alongside the destruction of tourism in these regions, were concerns of the provision of flood mapping and flood management plans for tourism businesses. Wider flooding impacts on the environment and the surrounding local communities demonstrates a growing problem for the future. Key words: floods; tourist accommodation; flooding impacts; risks; opportunities; tourist demand; adaptation; flood recovery, flood mapping, flood management plans. / LG2018

Flash flood is among the most hazardous natural disasters, and it can cause severe damages to the environment and human life. Flash floods are mainly caused by intense rainfall and due to their rapid onset (within six hours of rainfall), very limited opportunity can be left for effective response. Understanding the socio-economic characteristics involving natural hazards potential, vulnerability, and resilience is necessary to address the damages to economy and casualties from extreme natural hazards. The vulnerability to flash floods is dependent on both biophysical and socio-economic factors. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of socio-economic vulnerability to flash flood alongside a novel framework for flash flood early warning system. A socio-economic vulnerability index was developed for each state and county in the Contiguous United States (CONUS). For this purpose, extensive ensembles of social and economic variables from US Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis were assessed. The coincidence of socio-economic vulnerability and flash flood events were investigated to diagnose the critical and non-critical regions. In addition, a data-analytic approach is developed to assess the interaction between flash flood characteristics and the hydroclimatic variables, which is then applied as the foundation of the flash flood warning system. A novel framework based on the D-vine copula quantile regression algorithm is developed to detect the most significant hydroclimatic variables that describe the flash flood magnitude and duration as response variables and estimate the conditional quantiles of the flash flood characteristics. This study can help mitigate flash flood risks and improve recovery planning, and it can be useful for reducing flash flood impacts on vulnerable regions and population.

Bibliography: leaves [175-181]

Der Dauerregen Anfang August in Ostsachsen ließ uns in Zittau unmutig zum grauen Himmel blicken. Am 7. August, einem Samstag, spitzte sich innerhalb kürzester Zeit alles dramatisch zu. Regenmengen von 160 l/m2 ließen die Neiße und ihren kleinen Nebenfluss Mandau bis zu ihren Dammkronen ansteigen. Die Hochschulbibliothek Zittau/Görlitz war im Jahre 2006 am Standort Zittau in einen Neubau nahe der Mandau eingezogen. Die Haupträume befinden sich im Erdgeschoss und in der ersten Etage, das Magazin wurde jedoch im Kellergeschoss untergebracht. Das Bibliotheksteam wies während der Bauphase nachdrücklich auf mögliche Hochwassergefahren für das Magazin hin. Die Bedenken wurden mit der Begründung abgewiesen, dass sie nur bei einem „Jahrhunderthochwasser“ berechtigt seien. Dieses „Jahrhundert“ war am 7. August 2010 um 18.30 Uhr abgelaufen.