Will find solutions to flood damages

PHUSICOS is a large R&D project which will implement nature-based solutions to reduce the degree of damage caused by natural hazards (floods and landslides) that are associated with extreme weather in rural mountainous areas. The NGI-led consortium of 15 organizations include highly-ranked European research institutions, authorities and practitioners.

According to nature
The research project is names PHUSICOS which in Greek means "according to nature", and stems from the fact that nature itself is a source of ideas and solutions to minimize the risk driven by and associated with climate change.

PHUSICOS will fill the knowledge gap specifically related to nature-based solutions for hydro-meteorological hazards (flooding, erosion, landslides and drought) by implementing such slutions at several European case study sites. These sites comprise three large-scale demonstrator sites in Italy, France/Spain/Andorra and Norway; and two small-scale complementary concept cases in Austria and Germany. The aim is to develop innovative actions on five fronts:

1. Technical
2. Service
3. Governance
4. Learning arena
5. Product innovations.

15 highly-ranked European partners
PHUSICOS is led by NGI (Norwegian Geotechnical Institute) and has 15 highly-ranked European research institutions, authorities and practitioners as partners.

The first meeting which signals the start of the PHUSICOS project will be held at NGI in Oslo on 12th June with representatives from all the 15 partners present. The project will have a duration of four years and a total budget of 10 mill. € from the EU research program Horizon 2020. Roughly 50 % of the budget will be spent on direct mitigation measure by the use of nature based solutions.

The three demonstrator sites are:

• Gudbrandsdalen, Norway
  has experienced severe flooding after extreme raimfall, with destruction of large farming areas and infrastructure. The are well under way with the project "Laagen 2020".
• Serchio River Basin, Italy
  has experienced extreme drought and flooding. A new canal from a nearby lake is designed to reduce the risk.
• The Pyrenees, France-Spain
  Flooding and landslides due to climate change is a severe problem in the Pyrenees.

In addition there are two small-scale complementary concept cases:

• Isar River Basin, Germany
  An area threatened by flooding and erosion. Some mitigation measures have been established, but a systematic evaluation of these measures is required.
• Kaunertal Valley, Austria
  Landslides, rock-falls and debris flows caused by extreme weather. Sees great value in the use of nature based solutions.