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101-0278-00L 3 Credits MSC D-USYS , D-BAUG
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Flood Protection

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Robert Boes, Antoine Magnollay
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:32:59

Abstract

Concepts and structural measures to prevent or mitigate flood damage, planning methods to implement projects in practice

Objective

To get to know processes leading to flood damage, the different concepts and structural measures allowing to prevent or mitigate flood damage, as well as promising practical planning methods to implement flood protection measures in practice.

Content

Explanation of relevant processes: flooding, aggradation, sedimentations, erosion, debris flows. Concept of different objectives of protection for various land uses (from rural areas to industrial regions). General possibilities of flood protection / control. Land use planning on the basis of hazard zones. Classical procedures against flood damage with the use of examples such as increase of flow capacity, release structures, flood detention basins, polder. Property protection as continuative measure. Maintenance. Considering of overload case, Emergency procedures. Damage determination and risk analysis. Management of residual risk. Conflict of objective during implementation of procedures. Situatively adjusted approach. Handling driftwood. Surface runoff. Examples of projects in Switzerland. Case studies (group work). Field trip.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Flood protection script

Literature

Guidelines of Swiss federal administration (especially Federal Office for the Environment, FOEN)

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
graded semester performance

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Flood Protection
Former title until FS23 (in German): Hochwasserschutz Some lectures or the offered excursion may be still in German; however, the course can be passed without knowledge in German.
  • Tue 09:45-11:30 (HIL E 6)
2 h weekly

Offered In