Ph: Methodological framework underpinning the study

The SaferPlaces’ algorithm ‘Safer_RAIN’ was used in a research recently published in the Sustainable Cities and Society Journal, shedding light on innovative approaches to mitigate flood risks in urban areas. Titled “Rethinking cities in a more sustainable and integrated way,” the lead author Andrea Staccione underscores the pivotal role of nature-based solutions and green infrastructures in enhancing climate change adaptation and disaster risk management.

Focusing on the Milan metropolitan area, the paper delves into the efficacy of nature-based solutions and green infrastructure networks in reducing pluvial flood risks. By regulating storm-water runoff and peak-flow, these solutions not only safeguard urban nature and biodiversity but also yield multiple benefits, improving human well-being.

Key findings from the research reveal that extending urban green networks by just 25% could potentially halve pluvial flood damages and reduce the population exposed by 40%. Moreover, the study demonstrates that as green area coverage increases, damages to buildings and the population exposed decrease significantly, particularly for lower-intensity rainfall events.

The study’s methodological framework provides valuable insights for identifying priority-action urban areas, thereby informing decision-making processes on the most efficient deployment of green solutions. This groundbreaking research underscores the critical importance of integrating nature-based approaches into urban planning strategies to build resilient and sustainable cities for the future.