Climate change calls for new answers –
Innovative flood protection measures
are a focus at acqua alta
Exhibition and International Conference on Climate Impact, Flood Protection and Hydraulic
Engineering – at CCH CCH-Congress Center Hamburg from 11 to 13 October
aa3 / 24 June 2011
Rising water levels and flooded basements due to severe rainfall events – these are scenarios
which we will have to deal with more often in future. The damage caused by these events in 2010
totalled more than one billion euros in Germany alone. The need for innovative protection
measures against floods is becoming more and more urgent. Possible technical solutions cover a
wide range, from dike improvements to new ways of dealing with the water masses that can occur
in extreme rainfall events. acqua alta, Exhibition and International Conference on Climate Impact,
Flood Protection and Hydraulic Engineering, brings together delegates from research, industry,
local authorities and government to discuss the current state of the art in flood protection. Experts
from Germany and abroad will present new developments and projects at CCH-Congress Center
Hamburg from 11 to 13 October, with a total of 70 speakers from 10 nations. As the European
Green Capital 2011, Hamburg is a very special setting for this year’s acqua alta.
New insights from dike improvement
Dikes and protective barriers are the backbone of engineering works for flood protection. acqua
alta gives a comprehensive overview of current developments in future dike improvement methods.
For example, Prof. Norbert Meyer of the Institute of Geotechnical Engineering and Mine Surveying
of the Clausthal University of Technology presents a system to manage overtopping of dikes and
embankments in such a way as to provide targeted dike corridors to control the flow of water –
“one of the main causes of dike damage is overtopping at high water, because that causes erosion
of the dike. Targeted dike corridors can help to avoid that.”
Dike modernisation need not necessarily be a long and expensive process, as shown by new
methods developed by the FITR (Forschungsinstitut für Tief- und Rohrleitungsbau gemeinnützige
GmbH) in cooperation with partners from Germany and other parts of Europe. For example, the
injection of modified clay mixtures can make dikes better and more effective. This method is
presented at the conference in Hamburg.
Developments in mobile flood defences are moving very fast. That is why BWK (Association of
Engineers for Water Management, Waste Management and Land Improvement) is holding a
comprehensive seminar on mobile flood defences at acqua alta.
Severe rainfall and flash flooding
Events of recent years have shown that most towns and cities are not sufficiently protected in the
event of severe rainfall events. The local drainage, sewerage and waterway networks are not
adequate to take up the rainwater quantities which may occur. A study conducted in the framework
of the research group Klimzug Nord shows the importance of bodies of water close to the town
centre in coping with severe rainfall. The study runs until 2014, and its results so far will be
presented at acqua alta by Sandra Hellmers of the Hamburg University of Technology – “the final
conclusions of the project will give an overview of the climate impact to be expected for the
sewerage and waterways network. Adaptation measures in decentral management, such as green
roofs and green spaces with soakaway hollows can make a substantial contribution to mitigating
the consequences of severe rainfall events and reducing peak loads.”
Similar results are obtained by Prof. Wolfgang Dickhaut of HafenCity University Hamburg. He
demonstrates a retention potential of urban waters that needs to be enhanced. His analysis
includes not only decentral management, but also water meadow landscapes, demonstrating their
feasibility in urban areas. His study gives new inputs. “Even on a conservative calculation basis,
I believe that reduction of peak flows of extreme high water situations can be reduced by at least
10 to 20% in the long term. At the same time, the ecological impairment of these waters could be
substantially reduced.”
A flooding resistance certificate is currently being developed by Reinhard Vogt, a flooding expert
and Managing Director of the Flood Expertise Centre in Cologne (HochwasserKompetenzCentrum), on behalf of the General Association of German Insurers. House owners can determine
the flood risk for their property on the Internet, and can obtain recommendations for possible
protective measures. An online based continuing education programme is to be provided for
technicians and engineers, enabling them to get qualified for official validation of the information
which owners obtain for their own properties in this way. “We expect to be able to present the draft
version of the flood resistance certificate at acqua alta,” says Reinhard Vogt.
International exchange
International exchange on innovative concepts and measures is at the centre of acqua alta. Thus
Dr. John Pisaniello of the University of South Australia will present the special features of the
private-sector agricultural dams in Australia. In rainy periods, they may constitute a hazard for
neighbouring communities, and in drought periods they cause unequal distribution of the water.
There will also be contributions from Rotterdam and Copenhagen, explaining the concepts that are
being examined by other major cities to mitigate flood impact. Further information on the
conference is available at the website www.acqua-alta.net
acqua alta Exhibition and International Conference will be held at CCH-Congress Center Hamburg
from 11 to 13 October 2011. Its main subjects are Climate Impact, Flood Protection and Hydraulic
Engineering, giving a platform to all the organisations, institutes, local authorities and industries
involved for expert exchange of views and development of joint strategies. The exhibition at CCH is
a showcase for specialist companies to demonstrate their innovative products, technologies and
services. For further information please visit the website www.acqua-alta.net
Press contact: Gudrun Blickle, Tel.: +49 40/3569-2442, Fax: -2449, gudrun.blickle@hamburg-messe.de