The process of the work in BINGO followed the following methodology:
1) Climate predictions and downscaling to extreme weather - BINGO used climate models to simulate the present climate, as well as ten-year predictions and future projections. The climate data produced in BINGO were disseminated via an online “Data Extraction and COnversion” tool (DECO) at the Freie Universität Berlin’s Freva portal.
2) Integrated analysis of the water cycle - based on the data produced from the climate predictions, BINGO performed an integrated analysis of the water cycle for the 6 research sites. The analysis used a range of hydrologic, hydrodynamic and other hydro models, in accordance with the specific needs of each site and previous modelling work.
3) Assessment of the impacts of extreme weather events- based on the outputs coming from the climate predictions and the integrated analysis of the water cycle (hazard), BINGO assessed the risk associated with existing socio-economic activities, which results fed the risk treatment phase, based on ISO 31000. The main outputs were: i) risk tolerance levels and vulnerabilities related to floods and droughts; ii) the extent to which hazards associated with decadal climate predictions increase; iii) the risks for socioeconomic activities and people at each research site; iv) Warning and action indicators suggested in order to identify progression of Climate Change; and v) the adequate time to implement certain adaptation measures.
4) Developing risk treatment and adaptation strategies for extreme weather events - BINGO delivered aggregated values in terms of benefits, cost simulations and social added values of adaptation strategies and measures per research site. BINGO provided the recommendations for implementing the best transition path for each site, dealing with concrete (detailed) results. Additionally, a portfolio of adaptation measures was developed that can be used online.
5) Ensuring Excellence and Actionable Research -BINGO provided an innovative structure to improve communication among researchers and non-researchers having produced design guidelines for win-win collaborations. Because of the successful experience, BINGO could offer a set of tools designed to ensure that researchers and end users/decision makers are able to co-produce knowledge, leading to high level research designed to give answers to the society needs.
