IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i9p4151-d1648985.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Multi-Parameter Approach to Support Sustainable Hydraulic Risk Analysis for the Protection of Transportation Infrastructure: The Case Study of the Gargano Railways (Southern Italy)

Author

Listed:
  • Ciro Apollonio

    (Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Gabriele Iemmolo

    (Independent Researcher, Via Nannarone 11, 71121 Foggia, Italy)

  • Maria Di Modugno

    (Independent Researcher, Via Murat 34, 70123 Bari, Italy)

  • Marianna Apollonio

    (Independent Researcher, Via Sant’Alfonso de Liguori 17, 71017 Torremaggiore, Italy)

  • Andrea Petroselli

    (Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Fabio Recanatesi

    (Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy)

  • Daniele Giannetta

    (Ferrovie del Gargano s.r.l., Via Zuppetta 7/D, 70121 Bari, Italy)

Abstract

Transport networks are crucial for economic growth, yet their sustainability is increasingly threatened by natural hazards. Recent floods in Italy have highlighted the vulnerability of rail and road infrastructure, causing severe damage and economic losses. The Gargano Promontory in northern Apulia has experienced frequent hydrogeological disruptions over the past decade, significantly affecting bridges and the railway network managed by Ferrovie del Gargano s.r.l. (FdG). However, structural interventions are complex, time-consuming, costly, and involve certain risks. To enhance sustainability and comply with railway safety regulations, FdG has adopted non-structural measures to improve hydrogeological risk classification and management. Despite the prevalence of flood events, the existing literature often overlooks crucial technical aspects, which this study addresses. The HYD.RAIL (HYDraulic Risk Assessment for Infrastructure and Lane) research project aims to improve transport infrastructure resilience by refining hydraulic risk assessments and introducing new classification parameters. HYD.RAIL employs a multicriteria approach, integrating parameters defined in collaboration with railway professionals. This paper presents the initial framework, offering a methodology to identify, classify, and manage hydrogeological risks in transportation infrastructure. Compared to standard methods, which lack detailed risk classification, HYD.RAIL enables more precise flood risk mapping. For example, high-risk points were reduced from 37 to 6 locations on Line 1 and from 134 to 50 on Line 2 using HYD.RAIL. This approach enhances flood risk management efficiency, providing railway operators with a more accurate understanding of infrastructure vulnerabilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Ciro Apollonio & Gabriele Iemmolo & Maria Di Modugno & Marianna Apollonio & Andrea Petroselli & Fabio Recanatesi & Daniele Giannetta, 2025. "A Multi-Parameter Approach to Support Sustainable Hydraulic Risk Analysis for the Protection of Transportation Infrastructure: The Case Study of the Gargano Railways (Southern Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-24, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:4151-:d:1648985
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/9/4151/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/9/4151/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Philip Bubeck & Lisa Dillenardt & Lorenzo Alfieri & Luc Feyen & Annegret H. Thieken & Patric Kellermann, 2019. "Global warming to increase flood risk on European railways," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 19-36, July.
    2. Axel Bronstert, 2003. "Floods and Climate Change: Interactions and Impacts," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(3), pages 545-557, June.
    3. Theodore C. Lim, 2024. "Necessary Considerations When Framing Urban Heat Resilience as an Infrastructure Issue," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 90(3), pages 568-575, July.
    4. Françoise Nemry & Hande Demirel, 2012. "Impacts of Climate Change on transport: a focus on road and rail transport infrastructures," JRC Research Reports JRC72217, Joint Research Centre.
    5. Yunsong Cui & Qiuhua Liang & Yan Xiong & Gang Wang & Tianwen Wang & Huili Chen, 2023. "Assessment of Object-Level Flood Impact in an Urbanized Area Considering Operation of Hydraulic Structures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-25, March.
    6. Roman Schotten & Daniel Bachmann, 2023. "Integrating Critical Infrastructure Networks into Flood Risk Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-22, March.
    7. Nengcheng Chen & Shuang Yao & Chao Wang & Wenying Du, 2019. "A Method for Urban Flood Risk Assessment and Zoning Considering Road Environments and Terrain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Francesco Rotoli & Elena Navajas Cawood & Antonio Soria, 2016. "Capacity assessment of railway infrastructure: Tools, methodologies and policy relevance in the EU context," JRC Research Reports JRC100509, Joint Research Centre.
    2. Liang Jia & Saini Yang & Weiping Wang & Xinlong Zhang, 2022. "Impact analysis of highways in China under future extreme precipitation," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 110(2), pages 1097-1113, January.
    3. Muluneh Legesse Edamo & Samuel Dagalo Hatiye & Thomas T. Minda & Tigistu Yisihak Ukumo, 2023. "Flood inundation and risk mapping under climate change scenarios in the lower Bilate catchment, Ethiopia," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 118(3), pages 2199-2226, September.
    4. Mariusz Adynkiewicz-Piragas & Bartłomiej Miszuk, 2020. "Risk Analysis Related to Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources and Hydropower Production in the Lusatian Neisse River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-23, June.
    5. Mohammad Shafi Bhat & Sumira Mir & Hilal Ahmad Parrey & Irshad Ahmad Thoker & Shamim Ahmad Shah, 2024. "Climate change, hailstorm incidence, and livelihood security: a perspective from Kashmir valley India," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(3), pages 2803-2827, February.
    6. Perez-Maqueo, O. & Intralawan, A. & Martinez, M.L., 2007. "Coastal disasters from the perspective of ecological economics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(2-3), pages 273-284, August.
    7. Marinella Giunta, 2023. "Trends and Challenges in Railway Sustainability: The State of the Art regarding Measures, Strategies, and Assessment Tools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-19, December.
    8. Kwiatkowski, Kyle P. & Chinowsky, Paul S., 2017. "Climate change adaptation as an organizational system in transportation infrastructure organizations: Identifying processes and institutional elements," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 47-53.
    9. Gonçalves, L.A.P.J. & Ribeiro, P.J.G., 2020. "Resilience of urban transportation systems. Concept, characteristics, and methods," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    10. Ortega, Emilio & Martín, Belén & Aparicio, Ángel, 2020. "Identification of critical sections of the Spanish transport system due to climate scenarios," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    11. Zhihui Li & Keyu Song & Lu Peng, 2021. "Flood Risk Assessment under Land Use and Climate Change in Wuhan City of the Yangtze River Basin, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, August.
    12. Simi Goyol & Chaminda Pathirage, 2018. "Farmers Perceptions of Climate Change Related Events in Shendam and Riyom, Nigeria," Economies, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-26, December.
    13. Posthumus, H. & Hewett, C.J.M. & Morris, J. & Quinn, P.F., 2008. "Agricultural land use and flood risk management: Engaging with stakeholders in North Yorkshire," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 95(7), pages 787-798, July.
    14. Michael Siegrist & Heinz Gutscher, 2008. "Natural Hazards and Motivation for Mitigation Behavior: People Cannot Predict the Affect Evoked by a Severe Flood," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(3), pages 771-778, June.
    15. Wilmer Rey & E. Tonatiuh Mendoza & Paulo Salles & Keqi Zhang & Yi-Chen Teng & Miguel A. Trejo-Rangel & Gemma L. Franklin, 2019. "Hurricane flood risk assessment for the Yucatan and Campeche State coastal area," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 96(3), pages 1041-1065, April.
    16. Khabat Khosravi & Ebrahim Nohani & Edris Maroufinia & Hamid Reza Pourghasemi, 2016. "A GIS-based flood susceptibility assessment and its mapping in Iran: a comparison between frequency ratio and weights-of-evidence bivariate statistical models with multi-criteria decision-making techn," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 83(2), pages 947-987, September.
    17. Vojtěch Nezval & Richard Andrášik & Michal Bíl, 2024. "Impact of storms on rail transport: a case study from Czechia," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(4), pages 3189-3212, March.
    18. Tianni Wang & Mark Ching-Pong Poo & Adolf K. Y. Ng & Zaili Yang, 2023. "Adapting to the Impacts Posed by Climate Change: Applying the Climate Change Risk Indicator (CCRI) Framework in a Multi-Modal Transport System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-21, May.
    19. Jiale Zhao & Fuqiang Yang & Yong Guo & Xin Ren, 2022. "A CAST-Based Analysis of the Metro Accident That Was Triggered by the Zhengzhou Heavy Rainstorm Disaster," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-20, August.
    20. A. H. S. Garmabaki & Adithya Thaduri & Stephen Famurewa & Uday Kumar, 2021. "Adapting Railway Maintenance to Climate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-27, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:4151-:d:1648985. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.