Spatial Analysis for Rapid Assessment of Avalanche Hazard Levels: A Decision Support System for Planning

In Italy, the combination of dispersed urbanization and extreme events due to climate change have increased the level of risk to people and property. This situation highlights the urgent need for spatial planning strategies and decision support systems (DSS) to identify and protect risk-prone areas from uncontrolled anthropogenic development. The snow avalanche phenomenon is the natural hazard examined in this study. According to the complexity of this phenomenon, Italian Regions are classified into three increasing levels of territorial issues related to avalanches. Currently, avalanche databases and mapping tools in Italy are extremely heterogeneous and developed with methodologies that vary from a Region to another. This highlights the need to standardize and harmonize hazard/risk maps and classification systems in order to effectively support Regional Authorities in implementing risk mitigation strategies. The Abruzzo Region is characterized by significant avalanche risk, with the possibility that critical situations may occur, further increased by the growth of winter tourism. Consequently, the Regional Civil Protection Agency in collaboration with the University of L’Aquila, have developed a methodology to identify and classify hazardous areas based on the Avalanche Hazard Localization Map. This work led to the development of the “Avalanche Hazard Map” for the Abruzzo Region. The hazard classes are functional to detect critical areas and allow the Regional Authority to identify priority avalanche risk mitigation projects, among those submitted by municipalities affected by avalanches, for founding eligibility.