The MULTICLIMACT project is structured into seventeen Work Packages, organized into three reporting periods and corresponding to the three phases of the project (Plan and Design, Develop, Test, Deploy and Revise). During the first year, spanning WP1 to WP6, the project successfully concluded and finalized its first phase, focused on design and planning MULTICLIMACT activities and solutions for enhancing climate resilience in the built environment. This phase serves as a crucial foundation for the subsequent development, testing, deployment, and refinement phases planned in the next reporting periods.
WP1 – Resilience Framework Plan & Design: Key accomplishments include the creation of the MULTICLIMACT resilience scorecard method, a flexible and shareable tool supporting multi-scale and multi-dimensional assessments of climate resilience. A KPI-based assessment framework was also finalized, adaptable to diverse geographic and hazard contexts. The conceptual framework of the CREMA tool was established, setting the stage for future development in WP7.
WP2 – Practices and methods for supporting natural hazards mitigation and sustainability: The project delivered a catalogue of 44 adaptation measures, integrating physical, technological, and nature-based solutions to enhance resilience at multiple scales. Guidelines for energy and water interventions were also developed to support climate-proofing efforts, focusing on self-sustainability and adaptation to regional conditions. Additionally, a multi-scale KPI-based framework for cultural heritage was created, integrating social, physical, and governance dimensions for resilience assessment.
WP3 – Advanced Materials and Technologies: Notable achievements include the design and initial validation of cooling pavement materials to mitigate urban heat-island effects and bioswales for reducing water runoff. For flood defense systems, finite element models were developed and complemented with functional prototypes of fiber optic monitoring systems. In building resilience, engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) and multifunctional mortars were designed, combining energy efficiency with pollutant-reduction properties for improved indoor environments.
WP4 – Digital Solutions for supporting the protective role of the built environment: Progress in WP4 focused on the deisgn of digital tools for real-time monitoring and decision-making. Highlights include the design of CIPCast enhancements for early-warning systems, the release of an alpha version of the LIS mobile app, and the conceptualization of a fiber-optics-based monitoring system for flood defenses. Additionally, the PlanHeat tool design was enhanced to support cost-effective energy retrofitting scenarios in urban areas.
WP6 – Project Coordination and Management: To ensure timely delivery of results, WP6 achieved the submission of 20 deliverables and achievement of two milestones. Tools and procedures for project monitoring were implemented, enabling efficient coordination of scientific, technical, and administrative activities.
The completion of the design and planning phase in this first year represents a key milestone in the MULTICLIMACT project. It has laid the groundwork for the subsequent phases, which will focus on the development of innovative solutions, field testing, and large-scale deployment. These forthcoming activities will leverage the robust framework established in the initial phase to enhance climate resilience across multiple scales of the built environment.
