Systematische Analyse der Abdriftmechanismen von Menschen als Beitrag zur Minimierung des Hochwasserrisikos – Konzept und erste Tests

Despite the successful efforts of flood protection and flood risk management, a potential hazard remains for citizens and also for the emergency services in the event of flooding. This remaining flood risk is due to the fact that complete flood protection cannot be guaranteed from a technical point of view, but also due to various framework conditions (structural limits, availability of space, ecology). The aim of first tests is to simulate the risk of drifting people in floods under the most realistic conditions possible, at defined water levels and flow velocities with people in the River Lab of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences.

Both the subsoil and the footwear are taken into account during the tests. A safety concept ensured that the tests is carried out under strict safety conditions in order to minimize the risks to the people being tested. In addition to a precise evaluation of the hydraulic conditions measured and the forces acting, the time of the drift, the physical condition of the person at that time and the mental condition of the person are also recorded by means of a self-assessment. The concept and first test results are presented in this paper.