EU funds faster, more accurate flood warnings

The EU has funded three projects that have developed unique forecasting and alert systems to warn communities of impending floods.

Flood management and prevention is at the heart of the Imprints project, which has developed an early warning platform to cut responses to flash floods down to about two hours. The platform is based on better rainfall predictions and uses meteorological models and weather radar networks. The software is able to predict water flows on the ground and provide a full early warning system for flash floods, the amount of debris they might carry and any potential damage to local infrastructure.

Meanwhile, WeSenseIt makes good use of the power of human observation as an essential part of an early warning system. People contribute by taking measurements using new apps currently being developed by the project and sending information and images by mobile phone. The new technologies and approaches are being tested in Italy, the Netherlands and the UK.

The UrbanFlood project has developed sensors and related technology to monitor flood embankments and provide early warning of their risk of failing. The underground sensors monitor the state of embankments, changes to water levels, and other factors such as temperature, moisture and Earth movements. The information is then assessed by the project’s modelling software, which can trigger an alert if there is a problem. The software calculates how fast the site will be flooded if the dam fails and even suggests the best ways to move citizens to safer areas.

European Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said: “Our aim is to help governments take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce this risk and protect their citizens.”

The Joint Research Centre is also contributing to research on floods with the development of European and global flood forecasting and monitoring systems.