报告题目：Floating Havoc: The Neglected Threat of Flood Debris

报 告 人：Prof. Nigel Wright

时    间：2025年9月15日（星期一）10:30—12:00

地    点：地理资源所A901

报告人简介：

Nigel Wright became a Professor of Water and Environmental Engineering at the University of Birmingham in 2022. His early research focused on using computers to predict fluid movement in nature and in built environments. His work has since expanded to include flood risk management and climate change adaptation. He has received funding from several major research bodies in the UK, the Netherlands and the US. In 2024 he was a President’s International Fellow in IGSNRR at the CAS in Beijing. Nigel has published over 120 papers in academic journals and at conferences. He and his co-authors have received several awards for their work, including: (1) A highly commended distinction for the Journal of Flood Risk Management Best Paper Award in 2021. (2) The 16th Harold Jan Schoemaker Award for an outstanding paper in the Journal of Hydraulic Research. (3) The John F Alcock Memorial Prize from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.  Nigel is co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Flood Risk Management, the only multidisciplinary, international journal dedicated to Flood Risk research and practice, and is Senior Editor (Engineering) for Wiley’s Interdisciplinary Reviews on Water. He has a strong international background, having worked in the U.S. and the Netherlands. He has also collaborated on projects in Argentina, China, India, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Nigel is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of both the Institution of Civil Engineers and the HEA.

报告摘要：

Floating debris is a largely ignored factor that significantly intensifies flood damage. In Valencia in 2024, for example, over 120,000 cars were destroyed by floodwaters. This floating material, from vehicles to construction waste, blocks drainage systems, increases surface roughness, and directly damages infrastructure and ecosystems. Despite its profound impact, debris is rarely considered in current flood risk management. This presentation will highlight the urgent need to integrate debris analysis into urban flood planning. We'll discuss how debris amplifies damage in different flood types, from flash floods to tsunamis. The reasons why current strategies fail to account for this—including the complexity of modelling and lack of data—will be elucidated. A key part of the presentation will be a proposed roadmap and actionable strategy. This includes: (1) Developing advanced models that can accurately simulate debris movement. (2) Improving data collection on potential debris sources using new technologies. (3) Integrating debris risk assessments into all urban planning projects. (4) Enhancing emergency response protocols to specifically address debris hazards. By adopting this strategy,we can increase urban safety and resilience by accounting for the devastating impact of floating debris.