• Reference person: MarcelloArosio(marcello.arosio@iusspavia.it)

• Host University/Institute: Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS Pavia

• Internship: N

• Research Keywords: Urban flood risk, Climate change projections, Socio-economic impacts

• Reference ERCs: PE8_3 Civil engineering, architecture, offshore construction, lightweight construction, geotechnicsPE1_14 Mathematical statisticsSH1_1 Macroeconomics; monetary economics; economic growth

• Reference SDGs: GOAL 6: Clean Water and SanitationGOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureGOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Description

The research aims to assess the impacts of future climate projections on the probability of extreme precipitation events and their implications for urban drainage systems. The study focuses on the Province of Monza and Brianza (Northern Italy), a highly urbanized area exposed to pluvial flooding. The work will leverage existing hydrological and hydraulic modelling results based on historical data, adapting them to future climate conditions through the integration of projected changes in rainfall intensity and frequency.The research will quantify both direct and indirect socio-economic impacts of flooding, including as example damage to building, infrastructure, disruption of services, and business interruption. A risk-based framework will be adopted to link hazard, exposure, and vulnerability, enabling the estimation of expected annual losses and system criticalities.Finally, the project will explore and evaluate adaptation strategies for urban drainage systems, assessing their effectiveness and associated benefits in reducing risk. The overall goal is to support risk-based design and decision-making processes for climate-resilient infrastructure planning.

Suggested skills:

The candidate should have a background in civil or environmental engineering, hydrology, or related fields. Required skills include hydrological and hydraulic modelling, data analysis, and basic knowledge of climate projections. Familiarity with GIS tools and programming (e.g. Python, MATLAB) is desirable. An interest in risk assessment and socio-economic impact analysis is expected. Good communication skills in English are required; knowledge of Italian is considered an advantage for interaction with local stakeholders and data collection.

Research team and environment

The research will be conducted within an interdisciplinary environment combining expertise in hydrology, hydraulic engineering, climate risk assessment, and socio-economic analysis. The team is based at IUSS Pavia and is actively engaged in research on flood risk and systemic impacts, with strong experience in modelling and quantitative risk assessment. The project is co-funded by BrianzAcque, ensuring access to local data, operational knowledge, and stakeholder interaction, strengthening the applied relevance of the research.