The importance of citizens’ engagement in the implementation of civil works for the mitigation of natural disasters with focus on flood risk in Attica Region (Greece).

Ιn the framework of the Programming Agreement between the Prefecture of Attica and the Operational Unit BEYOND Centre of EO Research and Satellite Remote Sensing of the Institute of Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications Remote Sensing (IAASARS) of the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), in cooperation with the Research Group ITIA of the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering of the School of Civil Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), a rather innovative approach is applied for the purpose of flood risk assessment, regarding the contribution of citizens to the identification of the areas which are vulnerable to flood. It is highlighted how the experience of residents can lead to the identification of areas prone to flood, which could not be easily located otherwise, especially through large-scale flood risk maps. Moreover, it is demonstrated how the knowledge of residents can be used as a validation tool for the flood risk assessment results. Consequently, it is argued that the residents must play an active role in the conception, design and implementation of flood protection works in any infrastructure project within their area of interest. Such implementations of any mitigation measures should have as a prerequisite their acceptance by the residents. Their understanding is also important, on the one hand, to deal with possible reactions, appeals, and conflicts throughout the execution of the project, and, on the other hand, to ensure that residents are properly informed about the utility of such works and projects.