Boon and burden: economic performance and future perspectives of the Venice flood protection system

Carlo Giupponi; Marco Bidoia; Margaretha Breil; Luca Di Corato; Animesh Kumar Gain; Veronica Leoni; Behnaz Minooei Fard; Raffaele Pesenti; Georg Umgiesser

doi:10.1007/s10113-024-02193-9

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Boon and burden: economic performance and future perspectives of the Venice flood protection system

Journal article

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Boon and burden: economic performance and future perspectives of the Venice flood protection system

Carlo Giupponi, Marco Bidoia, Margaretha Breil, Luca Di Corato, Animesh Kumar Gain, Veronica Leoni, Behnaz Minooei Fard, Raffaele Pesenti and Georg Umgiesser

Regional environmental change, Vol.24, 44

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-024-02193-9

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Abstract

Other environmental sciences

Rights to environmental and natural resources (excl. water allocation)

Sea-level rise (SLR) and flooding are among the climate change stressors challenging human society in the twenty-first century. Many coastal areas and cities are implementing innovative solutions to mitigate flood risks and enhance resilience. Venice has recently developed a system of storm surge mobile barriers, known as the MoSE (Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico or Experimental Electromechanical Module). This study aims to investigate the economic viability of MoSE operations in light of the potential future evolution of SLR. To conduct a cost-benefit analysis, a system dynamics model is utilised to assess the impact of MoSE operations on economic and residential activities of Venice and its port. Simulations are conducted until the end of the century, considering two SLR scenarios. The results suggest that the economic benefits largely outweigh the combined costs of investment and foregone port revenues resulting from the MoSE closures. Nevertheless, the increasing number of closures due to SLR seriously challenges the viability of the infrastructure in the medium to long term. Even more importantly, very frequent closures will have serious impacts on the quality of the lagoon ecosystem. These findings suggest a revision and stronger integration of the city's safeguarding strategies, including the increase of the MoSE closure level officially set at 110 cm, and other coordinated interventions, such as sewer system consolidation.

Details

Title: Boon and burden: economic performance and future perspectives of the Venice flood protection system
Authors/Creators: Carlo Giupponi - Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Marco Bidoia
Margaretha Breil
Luca Di Corato
Animesh Kumar Gain (Author) - Murdoch University, School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
Veronica Leoni
Behnaz Minooei Fard
Raffaele Pesenti
Georg Umgiesser
Publication Details: Regional environmental change, Vol.24, 44
Publisher: Springer Nature
Identifiers: 991005648169707891
Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems; School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences; Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 8 Earth Sciences; 8.205 Ocean Dynamics; 8.205.294 Coastal Morphodynamics
Web Of Science research areas: Environmental Sciences; Environmental Studies
ESI research areas: Social Sciences, general