Italia-Croatia

Introduction

In this section you can find all the deliverables produced by the CRESCO Adria project.

Assessment of Transformation – Pilot Area Climate Change Sensitivity Survey

Within Work Package 1 (WP1), the project implemented a detailed assessment of natural cover and habitat transformation in selected pilot areas in Croatia (Novi Vinodolski and Vinodolska Općina) and Italy (Pescara, Montesilvano, Spoltore). This deliverable supports spatial planning adaptation by identifying climate change sensitivity factors such as coastal erosion, flooding risks, and habitat vulnerability.

These are the final outputs achieved:

1. Developed landslide susceptibility maps and inventories based on existing data and scientific input.
2. Conducted vulnerability assessments of coastal areas to erosion, sea level rise, and extreme hydrometeorological events using climate models and past data.
3. Analysed the transformation of land use and habitat conditions in relation to human activity and natural risks in both Croatian and Italian pilot areas.
4. Mapped flooding zones and infrastructure risks to support the development of spatial planning criteria.

Set the foundation for evidence-based climate resilience planning and strategic adaptation actions to be used in future activities (e.g., WP3).

The deliverable was prepared by the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Civil Engineering (GRADRI), and the University of Camerino (UniCam), with inputs from scientific literature, spatial plans, and environmental data.

State of the Art Analysis of Coastal Resilience Policies and Tools

This report provides a comprehensive overview of existing policies, strategies, tools and practices related to coastal resilience in Italy and Croatia. It identifies current challenges, gaps and opportunities for harmonising climate adaptation approaches across the Adriatic region. The analysis serves as a baseline for the development of joint guidelines, methodologies and planning tools within the CRESCO Adria project.

State of the Art Analysis of Local Conditions, Climate Risks and Adaptation Needs in Pilot Areas

This report provides a clear overview of the current conditions, planning frameworks and climate risks in all CRESCO Adria pilot areas. It summarises key environmental, social and economic characteristics, identifies the most relevant climate hazards, and highlights where local vulnerabilities are concentrated. By combining existing strategies, spatial plans, climate projections and sectoral data, the analysis establishes the baseline for the WP3 process and guides the next steps in vision-setting, stakeholder engagement and the development of local Climate Change Adaptation Plans.

Landslide Susceptibility Maps

This deliverable was prepared within Work Package 1 – Integrated adaptation spatial planning process, under Activity A.1.4 – Pilot area climate change sensitivity survey. It presents landslide susceptibility and landslide hazard information for selected CRESCO Adria pilot areas, supporting the identification of spatial sensitivity factors relevant for climate-resilient planning.

The deliverable includes analyses for both Croatian and Italian pilot contexts. For the Croatian side, the assessment focuses on the Municipality of Vinodol, where a landslide susceptibility map was prepared at a scale of 1:5,000. The analysis is based on detailed spatial data, existing landslide studies, LiDAR-derived terrain information and a landslide inventory covering the part of the municipality where conditions for sliding and flow processes are present.

For the Italian side, the deliverable analyses the Municipality of Pineto, using existing hydrogeological planning tools and national thematic datasets, including the Hydrogeological District Plan, ISPRA landslide hazard mapping and the Inventory of Landslide Phenomena in Italy. The report identifies areas requiring attention in relation to landslide hazard and risk, particularly under conditions of more frequent and intense extreme weather events.

The results of the deliverable support spatial planning adaptation by:
1.    identifying landslide-prone and potentially unstable areas; 
2.    providing technical input for climate-sensitive spatial planning criteria; 
3.    supporting the assessment of exposed settlements, infrastructure and land-use areas; 
4.    contributing to the broader understanding of climate-related geohazards in Adriatic coastal and hinterland areas. 

The landslide susceptibility maps provide an important evidence base for future project activities, including the development of strategic guidelines, spatial resilience indicators and local climate change adaptation planning.
 

Vulnerability Assessment of the Coastal Area

This deliverable was prepared within Work Package 1 – Integrated adaptation spatial planning process, under Activity A.1.4 – Pilot area climate change sensitivity survey. It presents a coastal vulnerability assessment for selected project pilot areas in Croatia and Italy, focusing on climate-related pressures affecting coastal zones.

The assessment covers the Croatian pilot areas of Crikvenica and Selce in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, as well as the Italian coastal area of Nuova Pescara in Abruzzo. These areas were analysed as representative Adriatic coastal contexts exposed to climate-related hazards such as sea-level rise, coastal flooding, shoreline erosion, storm surges, extreme hydrometeorological events and pressure on coastal infrastructure and ecosystems.

For the Croatian pilot areas, the deliverable analyses shoreline evolution, coastal vulnerability, sea-level rise scenarios and inundation risks. The study also includes numerical wave simulations using the SWAN model, supporting the assessment of exposure to extreme sea-level conditions and wave impacts. The comparison between Crikvenica and Selce highlights how different historical and planning approaches can influence coastal vulnerability.

For the Italian pilot area, the assessment focuses on Nuova Pescara, combining information on hazards, exposure and vulnerability. The analysis considers the interaction between climate-related risks and exposed elements such as people, infrastructure, ecosystems, tourism, agriculture, fisheries and other coastal activities.

The deliverable supports climate-resilient spatial planning by:
•    identifying coastal areas exposed to erosion, flooding and sea-level rise;
•    assessing the interaction between hazards, exposure and vulnerability;
•    supporting the interpretation of climate risks in urban and coastal planning contexts;
•    providing evidence for strategic guidelines and future adaptation measures.

The results contribute to the wider technical knowledge base of CRESCO Adria and support the development of climate-resilient planning tools, spatial indicators and local adaptation pathways for Adriatic coastal communities.
 

Inventory of Landslides

This deliverable was prepared within Work Package 1 – Integrated adaptation spatial planning process, under Activity A.1.4 – Pilot area climate change sensitivity survey. It provides an inventory of landslide phenomena in selected project pilot areas and supports the identification of geohazard-related sensitivity factors relevant for climate-resilient spatial planning.

The deliverable includes contributions for Croatian and Italian pilot contexts. On the Croatian side, the analysis focuses on the Municipality of Vinodol, where the landslide inventory was prepared using high-resolution LiDAR-based terrain data and expert visual interpretation of digital terrain model derivatives. The inventory identifies the spatial distribution, type and relative characteristics of landslides in the pilot area and provides a technical basis for further susceptibility and risk assessment.

On the Italian side, the deliverable includes landslide inventory work for Nuova Pescara and Pineto. The analysis uses existing hydrogeological and geomorphological planning sources, national landslide datasets and thematic cartography to identify and document landslide phenomena. For Pineto, the inventory records landslides classified by type of movement and highlights the need to consider slope instability in relation to extreme weather events and territorial planning.

The landslide inventory supports the project by:
1.    documenting existing landslide phenomena in selected pilot areas; 
2.    providing spatial evidence for climate change sensitivity assessment; 
3.    supporting the interpretation of landslide-prone areas in relation to settlements, infrastructure and land use; 
4.    contributing to the development of climate-resilient spatial planning criteria and future adaptation measures. 

The results form part of the wider technical knowledge base developed under CRESCO Adria and will be used to support strategic guidelines, spatial resilience indicators and local climate change adaptation planning.
 

Distribution of Flooding Areas

This deliverable was prepared within Work Package 1 – Integrated adaptation spatial planning process, under Activity A.1.4 – Pilot area climate change sensitivity survey. It presents the analysis and mapping of flooding areas caused by heavy rainfall in selected Croatian pilot areas.

The assessment focuses on the Municipality of Vinodolska općina and the City of Novi Vinodolski, where rainfall regimes, extreme precipitation patterns and flood hazard conditions were analysed. The report uses rainfall data from the Crikvenica and Novi Vinodolski meteorological stations, together with intensity-based rainfall data and design storm information, to assess current and potential future flood-related pressures.

A flood hazard assessment was carried out for three probability scenarios, corresponding to return periods of 5, 20 and 100 years. The analysis was based on a two-dimensional hydrological-hydraulic surface runoff model, using high-resolution terrain data and design storms of different durations. The results include flood extent, water depth, water velocity and flood severity maps.

The deliverable supports climate-resilient spatial planning by:
1.    identifying areas exposed to flooding caused by heavy rainfall; 
2.    assessing flood hazard under different probability scenarios; 
3.    providing spatial evidence for local planning and risk management; 
4.    supporting the development of adaptation measures and strategic planning criteria. 

The results show that flood generation is strongly influenced by terrain morphology, karst characteristics, geological conditions and the level of surface imperviousness. In Vinodolska općina, more pronounced flooding is linked to areas such as the Dubračina River catchment, Velo polje, Bribir and Lič polje. In Novi Vinodolski, flooding is mainly associated with the Ričina River catchment, the urban centre and smaller torrential streams near the coast.

The maps and analyses provide an important technical basis for future project activities, including strategic 

Constructions and Infrastructure in Flood Exposed Pilot Areas

This deliverable was prepared within Work Package 1 – Integrated adaptation spatial planning process, under Activity A.1.4 – Pilot area climate change sensitivity survey. It analyses constructions and infrastructure exposed to pluvial flooding in selected Croatian pilot areas and provides spatial evidence for climate-resilient planning and risk management.

The assessment focuses on the Municipality of Vinodolska općina and the City of Novi Vinodolski, with the main objective of identifying buildings and roads exposed to flooding caused by heavy rainfall. The analysis builds on the flood hazard results prepared under D.1.4.4 – Distribution of Flooding Areas, and further examines how mapped flood extents overlap with key built assets.
Flood exposure was assessed for three probability scenarios corresponding to return periods of 5, 20 and 100 years. Using GIS analysis, flood extent maps were intersected with available spatial data on building footprints and road networks. The results include exposure maps showing potentially affected buildings and roads, as well as summary information on the number of exposed buildings and the length and type of exposed roads.

The deliverable supports climate-resilient spatial planning by:
1.    identifying constructions and infrastructure exposed to pluvial flooding; 
2.    assessing exposure under different flood probability scenarios; 
3.    providing spatial evidence for prioritising adaptation measures and emergency planning; 
4.    supporting local development strategies and future climate adaptation planning. 

The results show that exposure increases with more extreme flood scenarios and that urban areas and coastal settlements are particularly sensitive where surface permeability is low and drainage capacity is limited. In the Municipality of Vinodolska općina, exposed buildings range from approximately 30% to 38%, depending on the flood probability scenario, while in the City of Novi Vinodolski, exposed buildings range from approximately 31% to 36%.

The analysis provides an important technical basis for future project activities, including strategic guidelines, spatial resilience indicators and local climate change adaptation planning. The data are also stored in a GIS database, enabling further integration with vulnerability and risk layers.
 

Reports on Observed Climate Change Impacts in Pilot Areas

This library item includes reports prepared within Work Package 3 – Climate Change Adaptation Plans for Local Area, under Activity A.3.3 – Survey in pilot areas.

The reports contribute to D.3.3.1 – Reports on observed climate change impacts and provide pilot-area specific analyses of climate-related pressures, vulnerabilities and observed impacts relevant for future local adaptation planning.

The uploaded documents cover different project pilot contexts:
•    Crikvenica – analysis of observed climate change impacts and local vulnerabilities relevant for coastal urban areas, infrastructure, public services and future adaptation measures;
•    Pescara – analysis of observed climate-related impacts in the Italian pilot area, supporting the identification of vulnerabilities and planning needs;
•    Marine environment analysis – assessment of cumulative pressures on the marine environment, including climate-related and human-induced pressures relevant for coastal and island contexts.

Together, these reports provide an important evidence base for the next steps of CRESCO Adria, especially the preparation of adaptation measures and local Climate Change Adaptation Plans. The findings help connect technical analysis, local knowledge and planning needs in order to support more resilient Adriatic coastal communities.