The C2IMPRESS consortium recently organised and attended its 3rd General Assembly and 4th Periodic Meeting in Aveiro, Portugal, marking a significant milestone in this innovative project funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe programme.
C2IMPRESS, now two years into its three-year duration, aims to develop cutting-edge solutions for disaster risk reduction through community participation and multidisciplinary research. This meeting, hosted in collaboration with the National Civil Engineering Laboratory (LNEC) and the Aveiro Port Authority, brought together a diverse group of experts and stakeholders. Participants included researchers from universities and research institutions and representatives from project partners in the UK, France, Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Australia. This international collaboration underscores the project's commitment to developing solutions applicable across various geographical contexts and hazard profiles.
Addressing Disaster Risk through Innovation and Community Engagement
Eduardo Feio, President of the Boards of Directors of the Porto de Aveiro and Figueira da Foz, inaugurated the meeting by highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts between ports and their surrounding communities. He emphasised the role of the C2IMPRESS project in fostering such partnerships and developing innovative solutions to enhance resilience to climate change.
The two-day meeting provided a platform for consortium members to review the substantial progress made in the first two years of the project. Discussions centered on the ongoing implementation and testing of solutions in four distinct case study areas across Europe (Ordu, Turkey; Egaleo, Greece; Centro Region, Portugal; and Balearic Islands, Spain). The meeting also served as a forum for coordinating activities and planning for the crucial final year of the project.
Focus on Portugal's Central Region and Port Resilience
A key highlight of the meeting was a visit to the Port of Figueira da Foz and Montemor-o-Velho, showcasing the project's practical applications in Portugal's Central region, one of the case study areas (CSAs). In this region, C2IMPRESS researchers are analysing the risks and impacts of various hazards, including coastal and fluvial flooding, ship manoeuvring and mooring, and the effects of forest fires on water resources.
A significant outcome of the project for Portuguese ports is the development of a sophisticated forecasting and warning system. This system will assess the risk of overtopping of port and coastal structures, as well as risks to navigation and port operations. This technology will empower authorities to take timely mitigation measures, enhancing the safety and resilience of critical port infrastructure.
This project is funded by the Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (HORIZON) under grant agreement No 101074004.