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NBSINFRA (101121210 – CITYNATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS INTEGRATION TO LOCAL URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION FOR A CLIMATE RESILIENT SOCIETY) is part of the HORIZON-CL3-2022-INFRA-01 programme.
The project's main objective is to enhance the protection of critical urban infrastructure against natural and anthropogenic threats by developing nature-based solutions (NBS) for a climate-resilient society. NBSINFRA is establishing five Urban Living Labs across Europe to explore how cities can address various challenges and remain resilient by bringing nature-based solutions to the forefront. Each Urban Living Lab aims to examine how NBS can protect local infrastructure, preserve biodiversity, and restore ecosystems under the pressures of climate change.
The duration of NBSINFRA is 36 months (from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2026).
The total project budget amounts to EUR 4,810,585.55, with 100% EU funding allocated to Ruse Municipality amounting to EUR 99,942.63.
The project is coordinated by Universidade do Minho (UMINHO), Portugal.
The project consortium includes 18 beneficiaries from 10 countries:
- Universidade Do Minho (UMINHO), Portugal,
- Research Driven Solutions Limited (RDS), Ireland,
- Technische Hochschule Koln (THK), Germany,
- Municipio De Aveiro (CMA), Portugal,
- Agency for Sustainable Development and Eurointegration-ECOREGIONS, Bulgaria
- Ceske Vysoke Uceni Technicke V Praze (CVUT), Чехия,
- University College Dublin, National University Of Ireland, Dublin (UCD), Ireland,
- Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Der Angewandten Forschung Ev (Fraunhofer), Germany,
- Fondazione Icons (ICONS), Италия,
- Ecoten Urban Comfort S.R.O. (ECOTEN S.R.O.), Czech Republic,
- La Rochelle Universite (LRU), France,
- Vilniaus Gedimino Technikos Universitetas (Vilnius Tech), Lithuania,
- Fingal County Council (Fingal), Ireland,
- Universitata Malta (UOM), Malta,
- Geodesign Hub Pvt. Limited (GHD), Ireland,
- United Nations Educational Scientific And Cultural Organization (UNESCO), France,
- Aristotelio Panepistimio Thessalonikis (APTH), Greece,
- Ruse Municipality, Bulgaria
Within the framework of the project, the Municipality is implementing an ACWA early warning system for flood risk on the territory of the municipality. The system consists of stations installed on four bridges along the course of the Rusenski Lom River within the Municipality of Ruse. They measure the distance from the point where a radar sensor is mounted to the water surface, thereby determining the current water level with millimeter accuracy. The measured data are processed and analyzed by a built-in processor, which adjusts the frequency of measurement and data transmission when predefined threshold values are exceeded. As the water level rises, the station automatically progresses through three successive warning levels, sending text messages to a list of designated responsible persons.
The ACWA 3.0 system provides users with real-time river level data, accumulated statistics, and historical flood records from the monitored locations. Results are displayed in tabular form, graphical and geographic visualization on a screen, printable reports, and exportable Excel or CSV formats. The system supports the maintenance and provision of both specialised and public reports based on verified data, tracks all parameter changes along with user, date, and time information, and archives the data in real time for access by authorised users.
The Municipality of Ruse, in cooperation with its partners from AURE-ECOREGIONS, is participating in the development of mechanisms for monitoring and prevention of risks from natural and anthropogenic disasters, with priority given to floods, ground subsidence, and landslides, as well as monitoring the condition of the green system, assessing risk prevention measures, and others. The Municipality has designated a pilot area (the so-called City Lab) – the valley of the Rusenski Lom River – to take part in the implementation of developed innovative applications and the evaluation of their effectiveness. In line with the project objectives, AURE-ECOREGIONS has developed several innovative applications to be initially applied in the leading pilot area – the Rusenski Lom River valley – and subsequently across the entire territory of the municipality. These applications are presented both on the AURE-ECOREGIONS website and on the Municipality of Ruse website, as follows:
- methodology for monitoring trends in decreasing or increasing the mandatory indicator/percentage of green spaces in urbanized development zones, in accordance with the General Development Plan of the Municipality of Ruse. The results of this scientific and applied task are also in accordance with the requirements of the new Regulation (EU) 2025/912. More information can be found here.;
- methodology for monitoring subsidence of the earth layers, as well as potential landslides. More information can be found here.;
- creation of a municipal database for vulnerability and damage (Exposure and Loss Dataset), with a simplified risk assessment by municipality;
- update and maintenance of simulation models of the probability of flooding on the Rusenski Lom River and damage to critical infrastructure;
- methodology for monitoring land cover changes based on the analysis of integrated data from the European COPERNICUS Program and field data, in accordance with the new global standard ISO 19144.