02.EDIT

Understanding Torrential Flows and Their Impact

Characteristics of Torrential Flows

• Torrential flows, or debris flows, are mixtures of water, mud, rocks, and vegetation that possess high energy and significant erosion capacity. They can remobilize large quantities of material during intense rainfall events.

• In Catalonia, these flows predominantly occur in mountainous regions where steep slopes facilitate the transport of substantial material during heavy rains.

Mechanism of Flow Mobilization

• Intense rainfall quickly channels water into narrow vertical paths, allowing for the rapid mobilization of materials such as mud and larger rocks due to Montserrat's unique geological features.

• The mobilized material travels downstream until it reaches flatter areas or infrastructure like roads, potentially causing damage.

Research Methodology

• The study combines various types of information including fieldwork and aerial imagery to analyze past phenomena in these torrents.

• Due to challenging access in rugged terrains, drones equipped with sensors are utilized to create high-precision digital terrain models for analysis.

Advantages of Drone Technology

• Drones enhance accessibility and provide diverse visual perspectives; when combined with sensors, they yield realistic topographical data that traditional aerial images may miss.

• This technology allows for detailed studies on other ground movements such as rock experiments, landslides, and subsidence zones.

Applications and Mitigation Strategies

• The drone-sensor combination enables the generation of high-detail maps for monitoring changes over time (4D monitoring), which is crucial for understanding flow impacts.

• To mitigate torrential flow effects, initial steps include conducting studies followed by projects aimed at construction mitigation alongside territory management and alert systems for adverse weather conditions.