Venice is uniquely vulnerable to fluctuating water levels. Situated at the edge of a closed-off section of the Adriatic Sea, the city regularly experiences flooding due to high tides, while low tides can obstruct navigation in its historic canals. Rising sea levels and increased storm surges caused by climate change have further intensified the risk of flood disasters, threatening both infrastructure and daily life. Managing these water level fluctuations requires a precise and reliable flood prevention system that can respond quickly to changing conditions.

To address the persistent flooding risk, the Italian government initiated the MOSE (Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico) project in the 1990s. The system consists of 78 mobile flood barriers, each as tall as a five-story building, which can be raised from the seabed to temporarily separate the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea during high tides.

For over 20 years, DHI has supported MOSE’s operation with its MIKE OPERATIONS decision-support system. This system ensures precise forecasting of sea levels and determines the optimal timing for raising and lowering the flood barriers. Since decisions to activate MOSE must be made hours in advance, accurate forecasting is critical to prevent unnecessary closures or failure to respond in time.

The system integrates:

• Hydraulic models based on statistical and physical data
• Machine learning technologies to enhance prediction accuracy
• Real-time data analysis combining model outputs with measured water levels

DHI’s Marine & Coastal team in Italy provides round-the-clock support during critical weather events. In November 2022, when Venice faced the second-highest tide in a century, DHI’s experts worked 24/7 in the MOSE control room, using highly calibrated MIKE 21 models to guide flood barrier operations.