The document discusses methods for floodproofing essential "hotspot" buildings to improve urban flood resilience. It presents several floodproofing concepts including wet floodproofing, dry floodproofing, elevating structures, building on mounds, floating structures, amphibious structures, and temporary/permanent barriers. Evaluation tools are proposed to help select suitable floodproofing options for different hotspot buildings based on their requirements and design limitations. The tools can provide insights into feasible options and aid cost estimation to improve flood resilience of critical infrastructure.

1. The effectiveness of flood proofing
vulnerable hotspots to improve urban
flood resilience
22 November2012
DeltaSync BV &
Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences
Dr. ir. Rutger de Graaf

2. Deltasync
• Specialized in flood proof urban development
• Architecture, consultancy, and research
• 5 years experience in an floating construction
market
• Broad business network: Construction and
engineering industry, Municipalities, Project
developers

3. Workpackages
19/12/2012 Floodproofing ‘Hotspot’ buildings 3

4. Hotspot buildings
• Definition: Hotspot’ buildings are essential nodes in critical
infrastructure on which urban areas depend for their functioning.
• Examples: airports, train stations, energy storages, communication
buildings, food distribution centres, hospitals, financial centres,
metro stations, electricity substations, drinking water treatment
works, sewage treatment works, bus stations, police stations, and
fire stations. .
• Point of attention: Hotspots buildings can only provide value to the
urban system by connectivity to this system
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5. Vulnerability hotspots |examples

6. Floodproofing catalogue
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7. Wet flood proofing
• Allows temporary flooding of the lower parts of the
building
• Water resistant building materials are applied, or
materials can be used that can be easily repaired or
replaced
(Pasche, E., 2008) (Pasche, E., 2008)
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8. Dry flood proofing
• Water is prevented to enter the building
• Treating the facades with coatings, using resistant
materials or building materials with a low permeability
• Openings in the facades can be closed with flood shields,
panels or doors
(Leven met water, 2008) (Pohkit Goh: 'Flood House' )
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9. Elevating structures
• Elevate the entire building above the expected flood level
• The connection to infrastructure is to be secured against
flooding as well
Groene.nl, 2010) (Allshesaysis. blogspot.com, 2010 )
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10. Building on mounds
• Elevate the entire building by building on an artificial hill
• Traditional Dutch concept
• Also used as shelter in the past
(Verdouw, G., 2011) (Waterschap Brabantse Delta, 2010)
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11. Floating structures
• Building founded on a floating structure that is
permanently located in the water
• Fixed to a location while allowing a certain vertical
movement by the application of mooring posts
• Flexible connection to the land needed
(De Volkskrant, 2007)) (Deltasync, 2010)
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12. Amphibious structures
• Building located in flood plane
• Traditional foundation combined with a floating
foundation
(Leven met water, 2008) (Donsky, A., 2009)
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13. Temporary and demountable barriers
• Temporary: Installed during a flood event and removed
after
• Demountable: fully pre-installed but operated during a
flood
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14. Permanent barriers
• Permanenty in place
• Examples: dikes and floodwalls
Rickard, C. E., 2009 Hadhazy, A., 2011
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15. Floodproofing methods: design considerations
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16. Hotspot requirements - Data collection
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17. Subterranean
Hotspot requirements – Design limitations
High building Vital track connection
High or uneven vertical load
Underground infrastructure Subterranean
Heavy building
Vital road connection
High building
Non-building
Vital track connection
Vital functions on ground level High or uneven vertical load
Subterranean
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18. Floodproofing limitations
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19. Floodproofing limitations
Table Fout! Geen tekst met opgegeven opmaakprofiel in document..1 Overview of flood
proofing concepts for hotspots (R = can be retrofitted).
Limitations Wet Dry Stilts Mound Floating Amphibious Temporary Permanent
proof proof Barriers Barriers
Drinking water
treatment
R R R
Sewage water
treatment
R R R
Substations,
surface R R
Substations,
building R R R
Substations,
underground R R R
Energy storage
R R R
Hospitals
R R R
Fire stations
R
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20. building R R R
Substations,
underground R R R
Table storage Geen tekst met opgegeven opmaakprofiel in document..1 Overview of flood
Energy Fout!
Floodproofing limitations = canR retrofitted).
proofing concepts for hotspots (R be R R
Limitations Wet Dry Stilts Mound Floating Amphibious Temporary Permanent
Hospitals proof proof Barriers Barriers
R R R
Drinking water
Fire stations
treatment
R
R R R
Police stations
Sewage water R
treatment
Communication
centres R R R
R R R R
Food
Substations,
distribution R R R
surface R R
Financial
Substations,
buildings R R R
building R R R
Airports
Substations, R R
underground R R R
Bus station
Energy storage R
Train station R R R
platform and
tracks
Hospitals
Metro station
R R R
underground
Fire stations
R R R
R
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Police stations Floodproofing ‘Hotspot’ buildings 20

21. Design tool| Relevance map
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22. Flood proofing selection tool
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23. Example of using the evaluation tool
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24. Conclusions
• Selection tool can be used to rapidly screen options for
flood proofing hotspots
• Evaluation tool can provide inside in the most feasible
options that can be further studied in a detailed cost
estimation
• Evaluation tool can be custumized to include local data
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25. For more information:
DeltaSync
Molengraaffsingel 12-14
2629 JD Delft
Netherlands
Dr. ir. Rutger de Graaf
T: +31 152561872
C: +31 616308790
www.deltasync.nl