A new study that mapped potential flooding on the coast of Lecce, Italy, highlighted the dangers of breached dunes and the importance of monitoring and protecting the existing dune systems.

What's happening?

The study was published in the Journal of Water and Climate Change in September 2025 and used a one-meter-resolution digital terrain model, or a 3D graphic of the terrain, to map changes to the coast.

According to PreventionWeb, the study showed how preservation and restoration of the dune systems can help prevent the impact of future natural disasters such as flooding.

Why is this study important?

Recent reports prove that coastal sites face increasing flood risk, so studies such as this one are paramount to protecting both natural and urban areas near the sea.

Dune systems face numerous challenges because of human actions. These include being at risk of rising sea levels, which are linked to rising global temperatures caused by the burning of dirty fuels.

While isolated weather events have always occurred, fluctuations in the climate can supercharge natural disasters, increasing the destructive impact of floods and storms.

Furthermore, the study highlighted that these dune systems have also been manually removed to accommodate housing developments, putting the buildings in these areas at higher risk for flooding.

"This not only impedes beach accessibility but also fosters the proliferation of mosquitoes, compounding both environmental and public health concerns," the study stated.

What's being done about the lost dune systems?

By studying and assessing how to restore these dunes, nature's barrier against flooding can potentially be improved. The study also called for action in future urban development, which needs to implement zoning and other regulations that consider the flood hazard maps created with the DTM flood mapping.

"Continuous monitoring through instrumental networks remains essential for anticipating future flood events," Gianandrea Mannarini, an author of the study and citizen of Lecce, said, per PreventionWeb. "The most effective approach is to embed these vulnerabilities into long-term urban planning frameworks."

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