VulNetWS © - A GIS based DST to Recommend Sites of Water Supply Systems for Preventive Measures

Michael Möderl* Sara De Toffol* Ernst Fleischhacker** and Wolfgang Rauch*
* Unit of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering , Institute of Infrastructure, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 13, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
** Wasser Tirol . Wasserdienstleistungs-GmbH, Salurnerstr. 6, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Abstract

In this article the decision support tool VulNetWS is presented. This GIS-based tool serves as aid for managers of water supply systems to arise the level of supply security of potable water. Water supply systems are under risk, any time. Various potential hazards can disturb the functionality of the system. The occurrence of natural hazards may increase in time of climate change. Terrorist attacks can cause tremendous impacts on the system. Therefore the tool identifies vulnerable sites of the water supply system by mimicking, simulating and evaluating a failure of each water supply system components. The identified vulnerability sites are recommended for preventive measures depending on the kind of hazard. As a result a vulnerability map is calculated using hydraulic simulations and performance indicators. To test the suitability of the tool such maps are generated for five water supply systems in an alpine environment. The results show that the evaluated systems include vulnerabilities which should be protected (2% of the components constitute performance indicators lower than 50%) to guaranty high level of supply security.

Keywords: Decision Support, GIS, Hydraulic Simulation, Risk assessment, Vulnerability

(Note: The MCRInstaller, version 7.7 is free available on request for VulNetWS users.)