Research axes

The scientific strategy is based on five (5) general and interconnected research priorities, and largely inspired by the initiatives of the UNDRR (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction), in particular the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, and special reports from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) on the management of risks related to extreme events and disasters. These general lines of research encompass Axis 1 – hazards, vulnerabilities and exposure to the risks of floods and disasters; Axis 2 – management and governance issues; Axis 3 – bio-psycho-social aspects (in particular health and economic); Axis 4 – reducing vulnerabilities within individuals, organizations and communities; and Axis 5 – communication, decision support tools, adaptation and resilience.

Each of these axes calls on several disciplines and requires an intersectoral integration of several research themes. Thus, for each axis, six disciplines are called upon and interwoven into the projects, namely 1) natural sciences, 2) technology-related, 3) health and safety, 4) social and cultural, 5) economic and political; and 6) knowledge mobilization and transfer.

RIISQ’s strategic plan is rooted in its scientific strategy, mission and vision and is based on three workstreams: stream 1 – a systemic, intersectoral and multi-hazard approach to flood risk; stream 2 – knowledge mobilisation, promotion and application; stream 3 – professional and academic training.

Research axes description

Axis 1: Flood and disaster risk factors. hazards, vulnerability and exposure

Responsibles:

Marc-André Bourgault, Université Laval

Maxime Boivin, UQAC

Description:

Hydro-meteorological hazards in the context of climate change), more long-term (e.g.. exposure due to development in a watershed; urbanization), or involving issues of economic and human development (e.g.. aging population, social and health inequality). The magnitude and speed of current and future changes at regional or local scales are all elements to be considered, requiring hydro-meteorological and psycho-socio-environmental observations and models (e.g.. meteorological, climatic, hydrological) of increasing sophistication.

This requires the regular updating of data and the continuous development of models (for example, simultaneous forecasting at daily, seasonal, or even multi-year scales) and regular monitoring of the level of exposure of communities and infrastructure throughout Québec. By improving our knowledge of the various risk factors and their combination in time and space, including domino effects and breakpoints, the work of this axis will enable a more accurate and timely assessment of flood risks. This will enable policymakers to better understand how risk distribution evolves, promoting better flood prevention and preparedness. It will also contribute to improved development planning (Axis 2); more precise assessments of potential consequences of a flood in exposed areas according to the level of vulnerability of affected populations (Axis 3); help change our ways of doing things in concordance with principles of sustainable development, adaptivity and resilience (Axes 4 & 5); and more proactive and better-informed risk management (Axis 5).

General Objectives

Gain a better understanding of flood dynamics in the context of climate change, in light of past events.
Increase the predictability of floods, including those related to ice jams and coastal submersions.
Identify vulnerable populations and those most susceptible to the effects of flooding.
Assess how the combination of natural and human factors and their probable changes influence the flood risk at the level of the community.

Aims

Develop new post-processing tools for hydro-meteorological forecasting.
Develop new and more comprehensive criteria for defining alert thresholds (rate of flow, water levels, etc.) by hydrological and meteorological services.
Continuous evaluation of tools and co-authoring of user guides.
Contribute to the training of professionals (e.g.. emergency management, alert systems).
Develop comprehensive scenarios of floods at appropriate territorial (fine) scales.
Improve prevention and preparedness.

Axis 2: Management and development of territories at risk of exposure, governance issues and legislation

Responsibles:

Mario Gauthier, UQO

Pascale Biron, Université Concordia

Description:

Governmental bodies involved in cartography and the steering of the provincial agenda; metropolitan communities and regional county municipalities (RCMs), who are equally involved in cartography and are responsible for integrating the provincial agenda into their metropolitan plans and development strategies; and finally, cities and municipalities, via the adoption of urban planning regulations to manage land-use). This multi-level and multi-stakeholder governance system (including OBVs) is complex and should be examined for its effectiveness and shortcomings, including the land-use control system which requires evaluation and modernization. Research is required to update the territorial planning framework to take into account the specific nature of each territory (integrated and adapted management). The various stakeholders need support from researchers in order to conduct post-mortem analyses which can be used to improve preparative measures.

The challenges facing governing bodies on the ground can be divided into two categories. on the one hand, the preventive approach, and on the other, predictive approach, which includes preparatory measures. Parties in various positions and administrations must work together towards a shared, strategic plan which will allow them to act upstream and thus reduce the suffering, damage and costs resulting from a flood. Thereafter, there is the issue of the governance of emergency and recovery operations. The focus of this axis must be above all these preventive and preparative measures which occur before a flood, although it is possible that it may lead to work in the during and after phases. Preventive governance means drawing on the power and responsibilities of a number of individuals, and when responsibilities overlap this can sometimes lead to conflict, which can lead to significant delays. The diversity of parties at play has as a corollary the bursting and dispersion of available knowledge, which can lead to mutual misunderstandings. It is therefore key to understand that various stakes and to foster communication, collaboration, and aiding in decision-making. Land development and strategies associated to the planning of uncertainties equally constitute a major hurdle. Innovative ideas incorporating methods of sustainable development, such as multi-functional watercourse spaces, have the potential to promote population resilience. Such spaces can be developed by integrating our knowledge about landscape function and biodiversity. It will be equally necessary to develop legislative tools for prevention and adaptation strategies that will ensure their feasibility on the ground. It must be well-understand that given the highly variable character of the climate and the great number of lakes and rivers in Quebec, it is very likely that certain deviations from the norm (greater low-water flow, torrential rain, winter floods, etc.) will be more prevalent if we stick to a more traditional urban planning framework. The challenges of interdisciplinary are here combined with inter-professional challenges which affect decision-making.

General Objectives
Reduce the barriers to effective preventive governance that slow down, or even prevent decision-making or actions which would protect communities and their territory and reduce risks and damage.
Develop spatial planning tools that promote adaptation to climate change.
Promote the development of necessary legislation, in collaboration with local parties, which integrate relations and social capital.

Aims
Implement adaptation tools at different levels of governance.
Foster interdisciplinarity and the means of collaboration with the milieu.
Develop the legislative tools needed to reduce risk.

Responsible:

Nathalie De Marcellis-Warin, Polytechnique Montréal

Description:

(1) The financial responsibility of rising costs linked to natural disasters and damage to properties located in non-insurable flood zones; (2) how the financial burden 7 should be shared between municipalities and citizens; (3) investments in infrastructure. The work of Axis 3 oversees in an integrated manner the wide array of consequences of flooding, using innovative methods to measure and describe their effects.

General Objectives

Document the effects of flooding in the short, medium and long term on the global health of individuals and their community
Document the interdependence of (a) the physical, mental and social health of individuals; (b) the social characteristics of flood-affected areas; (c) the economic situation of communities; (d) the features of rising water levels.
Determine the factors of individual, collective and organizational adaptation and resilience with regards to floods.
Develop sharing schemas for the financial risk among citizens, private insurers, various levels of government and private and public partners.

Aims

Develop tools to model the relationship between different flood-related effects on the health of the population.
Review the scientific literature and available data collection tools to quickly document the fallout of floods on the health of the population.
Compose a guide of recommendations about effective interventions that can be put in place in order to diminish the impact of floods.

Axis 4: Transformation and reduction of the vulnerabilities of individuals, organizations and communities

Responsibles:

Yona Jebrak, UQAM

Mélissa Généreux, Université de Sherbrooke

Description:

Floods disrupt the lives of the inhabitants, organizations, and the provision of municipal health services, both physical and psychosocial. Some individuals, because of their age or social, economic and/or health condition are more at risk of incurring material losses or physical harm, of dying, or of suffering other post-disaster repercussions. Organizations and municipalities which are poorly prepared to handle such a disaster due to either a lack of emergency plans, resources and/or of experienced personnel trained to intervene during a flood, are equally vulnerable. When we say the transformation and reduction of vulnerabilities we mean promoting the resilience of individuals, organizations and communities (IOC) to allow them to prepare for, resist and reconstruct after a flood. Vulnerable IOCs are more likely not to receive the services they require during the period of deployment of emergency service, not to use effective adaptation strategies and to develop more post-flood problems than those that have been less weakened by disturbing organizational or social factors.

In such a context, it is important to identify the various factors—personal (e.g. citizen engagement), contextual (e.g. the duration and extent of the damage), organizational (e.g. indemnity procedures), social (e.g. social capital, social networking), technological (e.g. infrastructure, alert systems), environmental (e.g. contamination), administrative, economic (e.g. debt, economic diversity), and political (e.g. the policies in place regarding the management and development of the territory)—likely to maintain, exacerbate, or diminish the vulnerability to, resilience against and coping with floods of Quebec society. Particular consideration must be given to the psychological and sociopolitical factors involved in the decision-making process leading to the adoption of coping behaviours and practices. More systematic studies must also take a look at factors which affect the capacity of organizations, communities and municipalities. There continues to be only limited information about these varied factors, which prohibits an efficient mobilization of knowledge in the service of public policy and the adaptation of public and community services. The research of this axis aims to develop knowledge which should aid in the 9 elaboration and application of measures designed to increase the ability of IOCs to cope during a natural disaster, and to prevent either the exacerbation of preexisting social, economic and political problems or the appearance of such problems in the aftermath of the disaster. In order to reduce the various vulnerability factors and to increase or promote the resilience of IOCs, it will be necessary to conduct intersectorial research projects as well as post-mortem analyses of the response to floods among a number of willing parties.

General Objectives

Identify the multidimensional factors and solutions in the pre- and post-flood which might encourage a reduction of the vulnerability of different groups (e.g. pregnant women, the elderly), organizations and communities, as well as promoting their vitality and resilience.
Identify effective interventions which can be implemented, in collaboration with RIISQ’s partners, during any of the phases of a flood (prevention, preparation, intervention and recovery) in order to reduce risk factors and prevent adverse effects, including effects on the society
Identify advances in technology and infrastructure, as well as development strategies which may help reduce vulnerability to floods (e.g. by replacing sandbags).

Aims

Review the scientific literature, among others, for effective ways to reduce risk factors before, during and after a flood, as well as ways to promote the resilience of IOCs.
Draw lessons from post-mortem analyses and recommendations made by concerned parties.
Transfer recommendations made by experts to said parties.
Develop and evaluate pilot projects together with IOCs.

Axis 5: Management and communication of risk factors, and tools for decision-making, adaptation and resilience

Responsibles:

Lisa Bornstein, McGill

Marie-Christine Therrien, ENAP

Description:

(1) developing a favourable attitude; (2) social pressure to adopt changes; and (3) a desire for greater control over one’s behaviours in a time of crisis. In order to increase the likelihood of success, program authors must identify which of these three elements allows the best chances of anticipating the behaviours of an individual. The tools developed should target elements with the greatest predictive power. There are a number of strategies which promote a feeling of control over one’s behaviour and an increase in social pressure to adopt a program, such a modelling, practice exercises in fictional situations, testimonials from influential individuals in a field, bonding between emergency responders and those whom the intervention is directed at, cognitive reframing of false beliefs, etc. It falls upon those who develop these programs to select those which are the most appropriate to each context. This axis will integrate the knowledge developed by other axes in order to co-construct and propose management, relief and adaptation strategies together with decision-makers and administrators. This axis will also work on risk communication strategies, which are a major component of risk and crisis management, as much operationally (during the event) as vis-à-vis a proper understanding of the issue (before, during and after the event).

General Objectives

Improve prevention and preparation by communicating risk factors and improving access to and knowledge of hydro-meteorological information by decision-makers and the population.
Improve our collective ability to effectively intervene among those at risk or in difficulty.
Develop tools in order to improve communication between various parties involved in disaster relief and the management of the consequences of floods.
Better understand the various factors which affect the perception of risk.

Aims

Review the key theoretical and practical knowledge to be included in tools to be used by decision-makers during disaster management.
Propose solutions (e.g. in communication) to particular problems caused by premature warnings (forms of information, media, dynamics of transmission networks, reactive ability, etc.).
Contribute to the development of an intersectorial approach towards the creation of watchdogs tasked with identifying, preventing and evaluating the management of flood risks.
Development of protective and preventive measures, as well as awareness-raising initiatives in various domains.

Workstream description

Stream 1 – A systemic, intersectoral and multi-hazard approach to flood risk

The 1st workstream uses a systemic and intersectoral approach to flood risk to better understand the relationships between multiple flood-related hazards and risks. To support intersectoral research and address new technological, social and health challenges, this stream builds on the research carried out in recent years to develop and launch new calls for projects and scholarship programs.

The main objectives are:

to nurture RIISQ-funded research that integrates: 1) an intersectoral approach; 2) a consideration of the systemic dimensions of hydroclimatic risks and its associated domino effects; and 3) RIISQ members working on the five research areas;
to develop, through the scientific committee, guidelines to ensure the scientific rigour of the research produced;
to establish and maintain an inventory of scientific research on flooding produced within the Quebec academic community that account for multiple stakeholders’ needs identified through RIISQ’s regional antennae and local partners;
to collaborate with local authorities involved in prevention, preparedness, response and recovery to improve flood risk monitoring and impact-reduction;
to encourage collaboration with provincial and federal departments and agencies on a systemic, intersectoral approach to flood risk, providing scientific recommendations and coordinating their participation in advisory working groups and committees;
to foster incubator research projects and local partnerships to identify priority issues (short and medium term) and needs of municipalities, regional county municipalities (RCMs) and watershed organizations (OBVs).

The 2nd workstream facilitates access to research results on flooding for local stakeholders (e.g. municipalities and RCMs) to support collaborative innovations essential to the efficient governance of risk management in the context of climate change.

The main objectives are:

to develop a knowledge transfer plan that highlights scientific and practical knowledge that is appropriate for and actionable by stakeholder communities with the support of the RIISQ regional antennas;
to conduct a regular review of the knowledge developed by RIISQ;
to identify and leverage funding opportunities with national and regional partners to recruit knowledge brokers;
to accompany researchers and local stakeholders through workshops or other outreach activities to co-produce knowledge for a diverse audience and to facilitate the dissemination of these results to target audiences;
to support the implementation of a digital platform with university and government authorities that allows open access to (flooding) research results;
to encourage collaboration in knowledge transfer, promotion and application with provincial and federal departments and agencies by soliciting their recommendations and coordinating their participation in advisory working groups and committees;
to maintain an inventory of regional and local case studies of flooding and any associated events to update the digital platform;
to collaborate with municipalities following disasters to compile lessons learned and draw recommendations for action and priority research topics.

Stream 3 - Professional and academic training

The 3rd workstream addresses academic and professional training of the next generation. It aims to develop the potential to go beyond disciplines and sectors that too often operates in silos, and develop spaces for collaboration, to create new and innovative solutions to increasingly complex problems.

The main objectives are:

to prioritize professional training needs, in collaboration with local stakeholders (knowledge users) and support researchers to facilitate specific training initiatives;
to establish the needs and means necessary to enhance existing or newly developed programs within educational institutions, and promote intersectoral approaches and inter-institutional collaboration in training of the next generation;
to support awareness and education initiatives related to climate change and its impacts, in the education sector (elementary school to university, supporting current and future initiatives);
to organize summer schools in collaboration with university networks in line with the five areas of research;
to encourage professional and academic training collaborations with provincial and federal departments and agencies, based on recommendations coordinated and developed through their participation in advisory working groups and committees.