Preface

The International Symposium on Urban Flood Risk Management (UFRIM) from 21st – 23rd September at Graz University of Technology aims to support the exchange of efforts undertaken for flood protection measures. The broad focus of this Symposium is on Structural Flood Protection Measures, Flood Forecasting-Warning Systems and Non-Structural Measures, Flood Safety Assessment, Flood Management and Enhancements of Resilience, Flood History and Response as well as on Social Aspects and Public Participation. The elaborated contributions to the Proceedings herein show the high interest to these topics.
A special focus of UFRIM – Symposium is drawn to urban areas. As during the last decades – especially in already densely populated areas – the ramifications caused by floods got more and more lost in our minds. The last green surfaces in towns were sealed, brooks were banned into culverts and small channels. Due to these circumstances – especially during flash floods with high precipitation within a very short time – the shortcomings were made evident. To mitigate losses in affected areas a solution of structural flood protection together with non-structural measures is needed. Such an integrative approach requires the close cooperation of the administration, rescue forces and the population to cope with the residual risk.
The Participants to the Symposium support the challenging tasks of Flood Risk Management with their contributions and encourage learning from each other and hence contributing to the society, which is one of the missions of Universities. We are proud that Graz University of Technology celebrates during the year 2011 its 200 anniversary since inauguration with the aim for scientific and technical contributions to the development of the society. As one of the seven faculties, the Civil Engineering faculty plays an essential role in the development of infrastructure and locates at the cross border of nature, influencing it and influenced by it. Hydraulic structures play an important role to make use of the regenerative water resources. During natural disasters these structures additionally play an important role to protect the infrastructure.
The support to this Symposium from the International Advisory Committee and the Reviewing Committee is gratefully acknowledged. The contributions from the Core Organizing Team – Cornelia Jöbstl, Simone Zechner, Christine Vitas, Harald Breinhälter and Helmut Knoblauch – are very much appreciated. Finally I want to thank the participants for their scientific contributions herein.

Gerald Zenz
Chairman