On 1st July 2016, the first results of a detailed vulnerability analysis of the endangered parts of the coast of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, prepared by the Institute for Physical Planning of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and the Faculty of Civil Engineering of Rijeka, were presented at the Rijeka Association of Architects.
Today we are already feeling the consequences of climate change through increasingly frequent extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, heat waves, storms and coastal flooding. Since their onset can no longer be prevented, it is necessary to focus efforts on adaptation and mitigate their consequences through timely planning and the implementation of appropriate measures.
Spatial planning plays a key role in this process. It guides the sustainable development of space, determines the purpose of land and sea areas, and harmonises various development interests. Climate change today represents one of the greatest challenges to modern spatial planning, which is why it is becoming one of the most important instruments for adapting to climate change and strengthening the resilience of an area.
Scientific research and projections of future climate scenarios indicate that sea levels will continue to rise throughout this century. This makes the adaptation of coastal areas one of the priorities of spatial development, especially in counties such as Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, whose development, economy and quality of life are closely linked to the sea.
Based on these facts, the Institute for Physical Planning of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the University of Rijeka have been successfully collaborating for a number of years on researching the impact of sea level rise on the vulnerability of coastal areas. The results of the work so far have been published in two scientific and professional publications – Analysis of the Vulnerability of the Coastal Area of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County due to rising sea level and Analysis of the Threat of Coastal Flooding of Vulnerable Settlements of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County – which represent a valuable professional basis for local governments and other stakeholders in planning, development and adaptation to climate change.
The results of these analyses, together with publications in digital form, are available via an interactive web browser on the website of the Institute for Physical Planning of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.
Previous research has shown that for a reliable assessment of the vulnerability of the coastal area, it is necessary to have exceptionally precise spatial data and terrain models. The greatest limitation of the previous methodology was the lack of a single, sufficiently detailed and homogenised base for the entire Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, which affected the level of detail and reliability of the results, the definition of coastal protection measures, climate change adaptation planning and future coastal area management. We believe that these results will be a valuable tool for local government units, professional institutions and all stakeholders involved in the development and protection of the coastal area of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.
A significant technological breakthrough was made possible by the availability of high-resolution LiDAR data, which removed this limitation. The data’s application enabled a complete upgrade of the existing coastal vulnerability assessment methodology, a revision of key variables, and the development of new spatial analyses at a resolution of five metres. In the continuation of the research, special emphasis was placed on connecting linear and spatial analyses, i.e. on integrating the results of the numerical modelling of waves, coastal flooding and geomorphological processes into a single risk assessment system.
The result of this methodological breakthrough is detailed spatial bases and vulnerability analyses, the first results of which we presented on 1st July. They enable a much more precise assessment of the vulnerability of the coastal area and represent a high-quality scientific basis for spatial planning, defining coastal protection measures, planning climate change adaptation and future coastal management. We believe that these results will be a valuable tool for local government units, professional institutions and all stakeholders involved in the development and protection of the coastal area of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.
The meeting was opened with welcoming speeches by: the Director of the Institute for Physical Planning of the PGC, Adam Butigan; the Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Associate Professor Mladen Bulić PhD; and the Deputy Prefect Robert Matić.
The project was presented by a core working team consisting of: Vedrana Petrović from the Institute for Physical Planning of PGC and Professor Igor Ružić PhD, from the Faculty of Civil Engineering.
