Hydraulic modeling of the Panaro river for flood hazard investigation

These days, floods are classified among the major threats that catchments, communities and, indirectly, economies are facing. Due to the unpredictability of nature processes, further enhanced by the effect of Climate Change, flood hazard and risk have to be carefully studied and assessed. Italy has a long history of environmental disasters due to floods, caused by poor catchment management, peculiar catchment morphology and accompanied by high return period hydrological events. This dissertation focuses on the 1D-2D unsteady state flow simulation for a preliminary hazard assessment in the downstream sector of the Panaro River (most downstream right tributary of the Po River). This work aims to expand upon the strategical guidelines identified within the Flood Risk Management Plan outlined for the Po District, a major project AIPO worked on to analyse the feasibility of interventions for the adjustment of the Panaro levee system and finally, to preliminary assess the flood hazard related to a test-site of OPERANDUM. This catchment experienced extreme events, which evolved into socio-economic damage along the plain. Therefore, the first chapter starts by introducing the current National and European flood legislation. It gives an insight of the Panaro defensive system and about the two main tools used in flood risk management: Flood Risk and Flood Hazard maps. The second chapter provides an overview of past flood events in the Panaro River and surroundings. The third chapter briefly illustrates the hydraulic model used, HEC-RAS, and the implementation of both river geometry and boundary conditions. The fourth and fifth chapter cover the aspect related to data availability, data collection and hydraulic model calibration routine. The last chapter explains the findings of the hazard assessment of the study area.