Damage simulator - a tool to explore the effects of flood risk drivers on the development of flood damage in Switzerland

Flood risk assessment and the design of risk reduction strategies often neglect the influence of socio-economic development on future exposure and vulnerability to floods and their development over time. Flood risks will increase or decrease depending on proactive adaptations of both households and government. A cooperation between household and government is therefore essential and may be reached by encouraging a constructive flood risk dialog. To overcome communication barriers, ease knowledge transfer between stakeholders and allow an integral rise in flood risk awareness the web-based tool “Flood damage simulator” is introduced.

As a communication and awareness-raising instrument for flood risk management, the tool is directed at various user groups such as policy makers, local authorities, spatial planners as well as researchers. The tool offers scenarios which represent the magnitude of flood damages to be expected today and show possible trends in the near future. Furthermore, it is possible to customize a user defined scenario in which the key flood risk drivers exposure, vulnerability and flood extension can be individually adapted, thus breaking down a complex topic in more comprehensible subunits. Generated knowledge and awareness might promote proactive adaptation of both households and government leading to a reduction of flood risk.