Enhancing the resilience of levee systems through methodological developments

Abstract

The resilience of levee systems is intuitively associated with physical and technical measures applied to aide in the recovery or adaptation after a destructive event. However, facing a hazard whose characteristics are never fully anticipated and to which a fully predetermined response cannot be proposed, the responsiveness of levee managers depends primarily on their ability to make decisions that must necessarily be based on a sufficient level of information and be supported by appropriate methodological frameworks. Building on previous research about the response to the Xynthia storm, this paper demonstrates that the resilience of protection systems involves expanding the approaches for hazard characterization, flood protection system definition, and intervention modes. With climate change, and the current ecological and digital transitions, methodological developments in the field of flood protection should also encourage the mobilization of more varied disciplines and strengthen solidarity between stakeholders. These links must be woven in the long term, under normal conditions, to be put in place rapidly in emergency situations. Ultimately, methodologies and operational tools must be developed for all (both normal and emergency) circumstances, within the framework of a global, integrated and cohesive approach.