GIS application for mean sea level estimation

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Incorporating SLR and flood scenarios in
Helsinki city planning3.3.2005Samrit Luoma
(Geological Survey of Finland) Samuli
Lehtonen(Centre for urban and regional studies,
Helsinki university of technology)
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The lowest recommendable height for building in
Finland in selected cities

• Including the minimum wave action
• Source Kahma et al. 1998
• SEAREG start, already guidelines in Finland

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Helsinki

• Flooding situation in Helsinki
• Max. sea level 136cm in 1990 (1887-1997)
• New max 9.1.2005 151cm
• Consequences
• Water entering to cellars in low lying areas
• Corrosion of heating pipelines
• Rain water flow in the sewer system

4
Prevention of flooding in Helsinki

• The SYKE guidelines into Helsinki building code
  2000. Lowest construction height in the Baltic
  Sea coast 230cm local wave height from 30cm
  and up (formerly used guideline 120cm)
• Distance from the sea shore according to Helsinki
  building code is 20 meters
• If built under these limits constructions must be
  equipped with a pumping system other measures
  against possible water damages

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Low lying areas in Helsinkirecently built or
areas under construction
Arabianranta (under construction)
Pikku-Huopalahti (built 90s)
Vuosaari (mostly built)
Herttoniemenranta (mostly built)
Ruoholahti (built 90s)
Lauttasaari (built 90s)
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Helsinki
Downtown of Helsinki in 25th August 1967. Long
lasting storm caused flooding of sea-water to the
low laying areas in City of Helsinki.
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Helsinki Market square
29.12.2003 sea level 117cm
February 1990 sea level 122cm
8
Winter storm January 2005
source Finnish marine research institute 2005
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Winter storm January 2005 (2)
Helsinki market square 9.1.2005
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Winter storm January 2005 (3)
Water incoming via overflow pipes
Flooding of a green area, note the bench
Recently built housing approx. 100m in-shore
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Winter storm January 2005 (4)
Arabianranta construction material floating 200m
off-shore
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Winter storm January 2005 (5)

• Marjaniemi

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Winter storm January 2005 (6)media analysis

• Identifying stakeholders in / by media
• Before the winter storm
• Finnish Institute of Marine Research
• Shipowners
• Coast guards on the Gulf of Finland and in
  Western Finland
• Finnish road administration
• Fortum, energy company
• The Finnish defence forces
• Departments of the City
• City of Helsinki Rescue department
• Helsinki Water
• Port of Helsinki
• City of Helsinki, Public works department
• City of Helsinki, environment centre
• Volunteer fire-brigade other Voluntary
  emergency groups
• Ministry of internal affairs
• Presidential palace
• Police forces

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Winter storm January 2005 (7)media analysis

• After the winter storm (in addintion to before
  the storm)
• Radiation and nuclear safety authority Finland
• Cruise guests
• Residents
• Insurance companies
• Uusimaa regional environment centre
• Finnish road administration, traffic services
• City of Helsinki - Real Estate Department
• City council of Helsinki
• Helsinki city, city planning department
• Ruskeasuo allotment garden association
• Ministry of trade and industry
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
• Officers in charge of the planning and building
  permits in city and communal level
• Construction companies
• The Finns
• Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen
• Defence forces
• Nature

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Organisational setting in the city administration
Science, knowledge production
Rescue department
core of responsibility on technical infrastrucure
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General coping capacity in Helsinki

• functioning guidelines
• guidelines gt possibility to cope with areas to be
  planned
• problems gt old, already built areas,
  infrastructure
• coping with issues of responsibility in olders
  areas
• responsibilities are not very well thought out
  (owner pays? planners fault?)
• central role of city planning department
• existing networks for adaptation
• administrative groups for emergency situations
  and e.g. underground constructions
• possibility to use these networks as a tool for
  knowledge transfer and adaptation
• no need for new organisational taskforces gt use
  the ones already functioning gt should be open for
  new needs
• the awareness is there
• balancing between adaptation / political needs /
  user needs

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Two examples of dealing with possible flooding in
planning
Low lying greenfield floods every year planned to
be flooded
Absolute barrier, prevents the recreational
use of shoreline
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Dealing with sea level rise or flood prevention
in planning

• peoples needs and wants
• solutions for planning well
• not only new guidelines or regulations
• combination of needs adaptation measures

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Helsinki Energy
The total length of the district heating network
is 1,171km
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Helsinki Water - Sewer Network
Combined sewer network area

• 264 (15) of total 1760km of sewer network is a
  combined sewer network.

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Helsinki Water
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Underground developments in Helsinki

• Multi-utility tunnel water district heating
  district cooling pipelines electric and
  telecommunication cables.
• 3.6 km from Kamppi-Erottaja-Kruununhaka to be
  excavated by end 2005.
• no impact from the sea level rise to the
  multi-tunnel.

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Low lying areas in Helsinkiplanned developments
New harbour (partly built, planned)
Töölönlahti (recreation/planned)
Kalasatama / Sompasaari (planned)
Jätkäsaari (planned)
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Low lying areas in Helsinkiold areas
Marjaniemi
Töölönlahti (recreation/planned)
Kruununhaka (urban residential, basement
flooding)
Kluuvi (CBD)
Kauppatori market square