On 4 November 1966, the Venetian lagoon area was affected by the most violent and dramatic flood ever recorded. It seemed that the city and other historic centers in the lagoon and along the coast where about to be wiped out.After that tragic event, the Italian government undertook to protect Venice and its lagoon.The complexity of the phenomena to face and the extent of the territory required planning and technical coordination in order to take coherent and systemic action addressing all the crisis factors. This was entrusted to the Consorzio Venezia Nuova, which comprises Italian construction companies and engineering firms.Consorzio Venezia Nuova acts on the basis of an integrated plan of measures combining the defence from floods with environmental protection.

Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei TrasportiProvveditorato Interregionale per le Opere Pubbliche del TrivenetoConsorzio Venezia Nuova

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1901-1

910

1911-1

920

1921-1

930

1931-1

940

1941-1

950

1951-1

960

1961-1

970

1971-1

980

1981-1

990

1991-2

000

2001-2

010

Increase in the frequency of flood events in Venice between 1901 and 2010. Number of events equal to or higher than 110 cm, per decade

To live with water in a resilient environment

MOS E

Venice \ Mose.Technology, development and innovation for environmental and coastal protection

Venice

Lagoon

Lido inlet

Malamocco inlet

Chioggia inlet

Mainland

Sea

For the size of the area involved, nature of problems tackled and the scale and characteristics of the measures implemented, the Mose represents an unequalled work program that comprises the defence from floods and sea storm, together with the protection of ecosystem. The flood defence mobile barriers are the heart of this huge program of coastal and environmental protection. The barriers are integrated with local defence actions for built-up areas, reinforcing the coastal littoral, restoring the environmental balance, recovering the islands and typical habitats, halting the degradation and improving water quality.The defence barriers constitute a solution protecting Venice and other urban areas in the lagoon from flood, including catastrophic events, in respect of the hydromorphological balance of the lagoon ecosystem, even in the event of a significant rise in sea level in coming decades.They are composed of rows of mobile gates that are filled with water when inactive and rest, invisible, in their housing structures on the bottom of the lagoon inlets.The flexible and rapid operation make Mose barriers the most innovative sea defence system ever designed: Italy’s top technologies and engineering went into the project, involving numerous disciplines and developing a system of exceptional knowledge in maritime construction, hydraulic, mechanical and plant engineering, computer systems and management models. This extraordinary know-how and the technical skills developed here can also be applied to other projects around the world.

The Mose is a model of adaptation to climate change, a worldwide reference for other countries involved in the challenge of coastal and environmental defence. In this way, Venice has adopted a solution that takes advantage of the sea through an innovative technology. The knowledge and information acquired must be shared with the global community.

The Mose system

Consorzio Venezia nuoVaelena zambardiCommunication and external relations Department Managerarsenale, Castello 2737/f, 30122 Venice - italyPhone +39 041.5293.591/595elena.zambardi@consorziovenezianuova.comwww.mosevenezia.eu

TopThe coastal littoral has been reinforced in order to protect the territory and creating a defensive front against water

Barrier in operation at the Lido North inlet (21 gates)

BottomA gate before the installation