Floodman: short for “near real-time flood forecasting, warning and management system based on satellite radar images, hydrological and hydraulic models and in-situ data)

The project focuses on improving flood forecasting and flood management, by implementing a flood information system. In this system information on floods both from in situ observations and satellite images is processed and made easily accessible. Furthermore flood forecasts are made available in the system. The system will enable improved flood management. Main issue in the project is the use of satellite data for improved flood forecasting and management.

HKV CONSULTANTS was the leading partner in the second work programme on hydrological and hydraulic model development. In this work programme hydrological and hydraulic models for test locations in Finland and Germany were improved and coupled. In addition HKV CONSULTANTS developed a flood forecasting system for the German pilot area (Rhine and Sieg) including data-assimilation routines. Besides regular updating of the models using measured water levels and discharges, the possibility was included to create actual and forecasted flood maps. Furthermore the possibilities were assessed for using flood maps from satellite images (radar) as an additional source of information in the data-assimilation routines. For this an approach based on flooded areas per pre-selected river reaches of 5-10 km was developed which proved to be most promising.

NORUT Information Technology, Helsinki University of Technology Laboratory of Space Technology (HUT) , Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Fisica Applicata “Nello Carrara” (CNR-IFAC), The Finnish Environment Institute (FEI), Kongsberg Satellite services (KSAT), HKV CONSULTANTS (HKV), Bundesanstalt fuer Gewaesserkunde (BfG)
Provincia di Alessandria Sistema Informativo (PDA-SIT)