The RISA-Project – RainInfraStructureAdaption

The project (2009 – 2015) 

RISA was started as a joint project and funded by the State Ministry of Urban Development and Environment of Hamburg in September 2009 (Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt, meanwhile reformed to: Behörde für Umwelt, Klima, Energie und Agrarwirtschaft and Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Wohnen). In co-operation with HAMBURG WASSER, the municipal Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal Company, and other involved scientific, municipal and economic partners, a solid theoretical fundament was built in order to promote a successful adaptation of the urban rainwater infrastructure to the requirements of climate change.      

The RISA project has developed suitable answers for rainwater management. In order to prevent flooding of buildings and properties, as well as water pollution caused by combined sewer overflows and untreated runoff from urban roads. In this context, water-sensitive urban development and an approach to the natural water balance were also to be achieved. The main objectives were improved water protection and flood prevention while maintaining the actual high drainage comfort and quality or quantity of precious water resource.    

In order to obtain the project objectives next to technological requirements and concepts also governance aspects and administrational challenges were worked out. Beyond that, the project became the starting point for an improved integration of water management issues into urban and regional planning and a corresponding adaptation of the institutional Framework.

Operational objectives  

  • Risk prevention against fluvial and pluvial floodings
  • Water body conservation
  • Approach to natural water balance

Project phases and Milestones

  • Phase I (2010): Joint problem and status quo analysis;
  • Phase II (2011): Evaluation and Planning; 
  • Phase III (2012): Establishment of pilot projects, recommendations for changes / adaptations in regulations or new regulations etc. and structural plan developed;
  • RISA Structural Plan Rainwater 2030 (guidelines for futher steps to acchive the operational goals) 2016

The implementation (2016 – 2030)

The project results were assembled to “Structural Plan Rainwater 2030“, a guidance document for administrations, experts and property owners for new rainwater management in Hamburg. Therewith, the project RISA developed a convenient strategy and the “Structural Plan Rainwater 2030” has become part of the climate protection concept and climate change adaptation strategy of the senate of Hamburg.

The measure addresses the fact that rainwater management is a municipal joint Task.

Publication

Publication

"Synergistic benefits between stormwater management measures and a new pricing system for Stormwater in the City of Hamburg" (2017)

Authors: N. P. Bertram, A. Waldhoff, G. Bischoff, J. Ziegler, F. Meinzinger, A.-K. Skambraks
Released in: Water Science and Technology  Jun 2017,  wst2017337;  DOI: 10.2166/wst.2017.337

Get the article her: http://iwaponline.com/content/early/2017/06/12/wst.2017.337

Publication

Publication

Multifunctional Spaces for Flood Management – an Approach for the City of Hamburg, Germany (2012)
Released in: gwf Wasser I Abwasser, DIV Deutscher Industrieverlag GmbH 
(https://www.di-verlag.de/de/GWF-Wasser-Abwasser)

Multifunctional_Spaces_for_Flood_Management-gwf-wa_11_2012.pdf (717.5 KB)

Publication

Publication: Rain InfraStructure Adaption (RISA) in the City of Hamburg and suitable funding for Stormwater Management, released in: Amsterdam International Water Week 2015, Conference paper.

150826_RISA_AIWW_fullpaper_Bertram_public.pdf (287.9 KB) / AIWW_2015_RISA_Bertram_Presetation.pdf (3.8 MB)

Publication

Publication: Water Sensitive Urban Design as a Role Model for Water Management in Germany? Lessons learned from Australia. Released in: bluefacts 2013, wvgw Wirtschafts- und Verlagsgesellschaft, 53123 Bonn, Germany, page 84 – 90, 2013.

“Water Sensitive Urban Design” (WSUD), originally developed in Australia, is a planning and design approach, combining the functionality of water management with principles of urban design. WSUD is mainly used when it comes to the development of integrated solutions for stormwater management in urban areas. Besides water management, WSUD regards urban design and socio-economic aspects, such as usability, functionality, aesthetics and public perception (Hoyer et al. 2011).

This article gives an overview about the (historic) background of WSUD in Australia and describes current developments and achievements, while emphasizing the main framework requirements and strategies to establish WSUD. Legal and statutory aspects, incentives and further education and communication strategies will be highlighted.

Finally, by comparing the Australian and German situation, the authors draw conclusions on the possibilities for applying Water Sensitive Urban Design in Germany. 

bluefacts_Hoyer_Ziegler_Water_Urban_Sensitiv_Design_2012.pdf (865.9 KB)

Publication

Publication: Water Sensitive Urban Design as a Role Model for Water Management in Germany? Lessons learned from Australia. Released in: bluefacts 2013, wvgw Wirtschafts- und Verlagsgesellschaft, 53123 Bonn, Germany, page 84 – 90, 2013.

“Water Sensitive Urban Design” (WSUD), originally developed in Australia, is a planning and design approach, combining the functionality of water management with principles of urban design. WSUD is mainly used when it comes to the development of integrated solutions for stormwater management in urban areas. Besides water management, WSUD regards urban design and socio-economic aspects, such as usability, functionality, aesthetics and public perception (Hoyer et al. 2011).

This article gives an overview about the (historic) background of WSUD in Australia and describes current developments and achievements, while emphasizing the main framework requirements and strategies to establish WSUD. Legal and statutory aspects, incentives and further education and communication strategies will be highlighted.

Finally, by comparing the Australian and German situation, the authors draw conclusions on the possibilities for applying Water Sensitive Urban Design in Germany. 

blue_2013_10-16_van_Leeuwen_Bertram_TRUST_Baseline_and_best.pdf (858.0 KB)

Publication

Publication: GIS-based methodology for pluvial flood riskanalysis in Hamburg - Méthodologie SIG pour l'analyse des risquesd’inondation pluviale à Hambourg. Released at NOVATECH 2013.

As one of many consequences of the ongoing climate change an increasing frequency of occurringextreme rainfall events which may cause surcharged urban drainage systems and flooded urban areasis expected for Central Europe within next decades. Therefore the development of appropriateadaptation and prevention strategies to reduce pluvial flood damages requires a sound risk analysisbased on the assessments of hazards and of vulnerabilities. In the last few years, variousmethodologies and approaches in particular of hazard analysis have been introduced and established. Within the RISA project (Rain InfraStructure Adaptation) the following GIS-based methodology for apluvial hazard and risk analysis has been developed for the city of Hamburg by the means of a casestudy. The key objectives of the methodology are an optimal use of available municipal data sources, a high degree of automation in the application and a good transferability to the entire city areacombined with a reliable quality of results.

2013_NOVATECH_Scheid_GIS-based_methodology_for_pluvial_flood_risk_analysis_in_Hamburg.pdf (726.3 KB)