Flood Risk Management
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
Abstract
Upscaling UK Flood Defence Assets: Assessment and application of international flood defences in development of a holistic approach to UK fluvial flood risk management for future climate and land use scenarios
Innovative and proactive work is needed in order to prepare the UK for more significant flooding under future climate and land use scenarios. This research will provide new and tested techniques for sustainable fluvial flood mitigation. Working closely with, and providing recommendations to government partners such as the Environment Agency this work will drive the advancement and development of effective River Basin Management Plans supporting a holistic approach to UK flood mitigation. The project aims to develop a holistic strategy for UK flood defence assets in order to limit the impacts of fluvial flooding under future climate and land use scenarios.
Assessment of the success of international flood defences and their suitability in application to the UK system will be key to the project. The PhD will focus particularly on examples from The Netherlands. Here, the success of Dutch techniques such as the Polder system, Dykes and Dams, and "Room for the River" will be assessed. Application of Dutch water management techniques to the UK system will be considered. Through the use of computer modelling, map analysis, private/public/government and community engagement, adaptations to Dutch techniques will be developed so as to fit with UK hydrological processes and requirements.
Both soft and hard engineering techniques and community engagement will be considered and assessed equally. Through analysis, adaptation and modelling of international measures to limit fluvial flooding, the project will produce a flood defence strategy ready for application to the UK.
The project benefits from international collaboration and close contact with river management organisations like the Environment Agency in England and Rijkswaterstaat (the Ministry of Water and Infrastructure) in the Netherlands. Placements at both organisations are expected. The National Flood Forum will be involved to guide the community engagement aspects of this project.
Innovative and proactive work is needed in order to prepare the UK for more significant flooding under future climate and land use scenarios. This research will provide new and tested techniques for sustainable fluvial flood mitigation. Working closely with, and providing recommendations to government partners such as the Environment Agency this work will drive the advancement and development of effective River Basin Management Plans supporting a holistic approach to UK flood mitigation. The project aims to develop a holistic strategy for UK flood defence assets in order to limit the impacts of fluvial flooding under future climate and land use scenarios.
Assessment of the success of international flood defences and their suitability in application to the UK system will be key to the project. The PhD will focus particularly on examples from The Netherlands. Here, the success of Dutch techniques such as the Polder system, Dykes and Dams, and "Room for the River" will be assessed. Application of Dutch water management techniques to the UK system will be considered. Through the use of computer modelling, map analysis, private/public/government and community engagement, adaptations to Dutch techniques will be developed so as to fit with UK hydrological processes and requirements.
Both soft and hard engineering techniques and community engagement will be considered and assessed equally. Through analysis, adaptation and modelling of international measures to limit fluvial flooding, the project will produce a flood defence strategy ready for application to the UK.
The project benefits from international collaboration and close contact with river management organisations like the Environment Agency in England and Rijkswaterstaat (the Ministry of Water and Infrastructure) in the Netherlands. Placements at both organisations are expected. The National Flood Forum will be involved to guide the community engagement aspects of this project.
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE/M009009/1 | 05/10/2015 | 31/12/2022 | |||
| 2072101 | Studentship | NE/M009009/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2020 | Lucinda Capewell |
| Description | EGU Travel Grant for CNDS/EGU Summer School, Uppsala University |
| Amount | € 400 (EUR) |
| Organisation | European Geosciences Union |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 08/2018 |
| End | 08/2018 |
| Title | Flood risk perceptions research questionnaire |
| Description | Flood risk perceptions research questionnaire (with additional sketch/drawing perception map exercise) to gain scientific data on flood risk perceptions in locations with new/developed flood management strategies |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Data from homeowners on flood risk perceptions in case study locations |
| Description | Engagement focused website (flood risk perceptions participation) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A research website which enables the general public to learn more about the research on changing flood management, and agree/opt-in to participate in our research by sharing their flood risk perceptions through a survey and risk mapping exercise. Unknown data on how many people viewed the website, but there were 16 public responses from case study locations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019,2020 |
| URL | https://hydrologicalextremes.org/flood-risk-perception/ |