Here is a decision-support tool that will enable sustainable coastal energy; this online map viewer can be used for exploring potential future flooding to identify how coastal power stations, substations and distribution grid can be adapted to future climate change impacts and thus become more resilient.
Research Council: EPSRC
This project assessed and improved the computer modelling of flood flows that can adapt to local topography and obstruction, efficiently generating accurate solution even where the flow is very complex. This will mean that very accurate simulation can be applied at a range of different scales (from small to very large), including broad scale interactions of flood flow. This adaptive model is applied simulate large-scale real world flood scenarios. Particularly, the model will allow simulation of very large scale flood inundation (e.g. the whole Thames Estuary area) whilst also resolving the effect of local flows at flood defences. This research is for the benefit of engineering consultants and insurance business involving assessment and management of flood risk. The Environment Agency and local authorities will benefit in that larger scale flood simulation and related risk analysis resulting from this work will provide further information for better flood risk management and alleviation. This will in turn benefit the general public in terms of flood risk reduction and improved communication of flood risk.
Research Council: EPSRC
The role of community learning in disasters is seen to be increasingly important. Education is the lost discipline in terms of understanding behaviour in disasters and emergencies. This interdisciplinary project considers how new technologies and methods in the physical and social sciences can facilitate city evacuations with a focus on plans in London, Birmingham and Carlisle.
Research Council: EPSRC
Effective flood incident management (FIM) requires successful operation of complex, interacting human and technological systems. A dynamic agent-based model of FIM processes has been developed to provide new insights which can be used for policy analysis and other practical applications. The model integrates remotely sensed information on topography, buildings and road networks with empirical survey data to fit characteristics of specific communities. The multi-agent simulation has been coupled with a hydrodynamic model to estimate the vulnerability of individuals to flooding under different storm surge conditions, defence breach scenarios, flood warning times and evacuation strategies. A case study in the coastal town of Towyn in the United Kingdom has demonstrated the capacity of the model to analyse the risks of flooding to people, support flood emergency planning and appraise the benefits of flood incident management measures.
Research Council: EPSRC
WATCH THIS SPACE: Reliable and comprehensive flood forecasting is crucial to ensure resilient cities and sustainable socio-economic development in a future faced with an unprecedented increase in atmospheric temperature and intensified precipitation.
Research Council: EPSRC
WATCH THIS SPACE: The flow of goods, people and energy essential to continued economic development are at increasing risk of flood disruption. Models, forecasts, warnings or management strategies for urban surface water flooding are less advanced, and require improved understanding and prediction of surface water flood impacts. The project will help to raise public awareness to, and improve preparedness for and recover from, surface water floods. Two-way public engagements will disseminate knowledge raised in the project as well as collect feedback from the public.
Research Council: EPSRC