We’re pleased to have recently hosted Heather Forbes for a two-week work placement, working remotely within the Flood Foresight team.
Heather is studying for an MSc in River Basin Dynamics and Management, and joined us from the University of Leeds for this two-week placement. Heather has been telling us a bit more about her time working remotely with the Flood Foresight team.
Example: Forecast maximum return periods 6 days ahead
During lockdown I was fortunate enough to be able to complete a remote work experience placement with JBA Consulting. I was working on their Flood Foresight project, which produces forecasts of fluvial flooding events up to a 10-day lead time. The model had been run for the length of the 2019 Myanmar monsoon season, and there was over three months’ worth of data to review and validate!
My overall aim was to review the data in a way that would be useful to the project team, by searching for inaccuracies in the forecasts of significant flooding events that occurred through the season. Flood events during the 2019 monsoon season were validated using information in the DREF Final Report – Myanmar: Monsoon Floods 2019
Through a combination of GIS and R analysis I produced forecast ‘risk’ maps and calculated simple hit or miss scores to test the model performance. Unsurprisingly, I found that performance improved significantly as the lead time reduced, and the model became particularly accurate 3-4 days ahead of the events.
Example: Forecast maximum return periods 1 day ahead
The placement has made me much more aware of the skills required to complete research projects in a commercial setting. I was pleased that my newly-learned R and GIS skills were able to be put to the test, though felt that with better coding skills I could have made the processing more efficient, and this will be a useful skill for me to develop going forwards. The nature of the remote placement also presented its own challenges. As I’m sure many of us have, I found that presenting with PowerPoint, and the use of other communication channels such as Skype, Teams and shared folders was critical to the success of the placement. The results were presented over Skype using PowerPoint as a visual aid, and the project team were always at the end of the phone to help if needed.
Highlights of working from home included the ideal proximity to the biscuit tin, and being free to shout at my computer when R would not co-operate. Whilst it was a shame not to have worked with the team face-to-face, I still felt like I was working alongside them and would like to thank them for their warm virtual welcome.
Want to know more?
Our warmest thanks to Heather for sharing this remote work placement experience.
Flood Foresight is a globally-scalable operational system providing data on rainfall severity, flood inundation footprints and depths, and flood impacts. Flood Foresight supports operational flood management in the infrastructure, insurance, utilities and civil contingencies sectors, and is designed to be compatible with existing business intelligence and decision support tools. Find out more about our flood forecasting and monitoring system at www.floodforesight.com. You can also email John Bevington.
We have significant expertise in designing and installing flow gauging stations, including modifications of existing gauging stations to facilitate fish passage (e.g. through retrofitting of baffles or adding a Larinier fish pass in compound with an existing gauging weir). We can advise on siting, choice of method/feasibility and design. We have also excellent working relationship with NIVUS GmbH, with whom we have worked closely in designing new transit time ultrasonic stations.
Strategic studies and network reviews
We have an impressive track record in relation to delivering strategic hydrometric studies:
From January 2007 to September 2010, we carried out an extensive national review of the hydrometric network in England and Wales on behalf of the Environment Agency. The work was undertaken in two phases: i) River Gauging Network, ii) Rainfall Gauging Network. As well as a comprehensive review of the existing network and assessment of requirements to meet future initiatives, software tools for and guidance on network management were developed.[1]
From September 2008 to June 2010 we carried out a strategic review of Hydro-Meteorological Monitoring networks operated by the Office of Public Works in Ireland. This involved the identification of the long-term strategic needs for flood-related hydrometric and meteorological data in Ireland, including strategic management requirements for effective data collection and provision of flood related information.
In 2012 we carried out a detailed review of the Hydrometric Network in Yorkshire and North East, whilst involved a review of drivers of the flow and level gauging network, quantification of benefits derived from the network and outline of possible network improvements, specification of gaps and redundancy in existing network and prioritisation for network improvements based on operational requirements.
In 2015 we delivered a detailed review of the hydrometric network operated by the Environmental Protection Agency in Ireland. This included a detailed comparison of the hydrometric network in Ireland with those in Scotland, Wales and New Zealand.
We are currently (2018) helping Waterways Ireland to undertake an evaluation of their monitoring network.
[1] See Davis, R., Zaidman, M., Grew, R. & Garrett, K. 2010. Evaluating the benefits of the hydrometric network in England and Wales. Proceedings of the British Hydrological Society Conference, Newcastle University, July 2010.
Hydrometric data validation and review
All the data we collect and supply undergoes strict validation and data assurance processes before use/issue. We are also able to undertake independent validation or checks of third party data; a recent example being an independent review of the quality of hydrometric data collected by the Tweed Forum as part of their Eddleston Water Project.
Our team has been widely involved in defining procedures for data management and assessment of data quality, of which some of the higher-profile projects have included:
Development of Operational Instruction outlining how the HiFlows-UK flood peak database should be managed, and implementation of improvement measures including rating updates and evaluation (Environment Agency, 2014).
Reviews of the performance of the EA’s Tipping Bucket raingauge network, which included comparing accumulated rainfall from TBRs and their collocated storage raingauges and identifying reasons for any discrepancies in terms of calibration, site maintenance, under catch due to exposure, evaporation etc.
Development of a tipping bucket raingauge calibration procedure for the OPW.
Spot gauging service and rating curve development
We offer a spot gauging service using our own Valeport Model 801 Electromagnetic Open Channel Flow Meter, which we operate in accordance with BS EN ISO 748:2007 and which undergoes calibration every three years by the manufacturer. Recognising those situations where specialist equipment is needed we also have expertise with hired instrumentation including OTT’s QLiner, Sontek’s RiverSurveyor and FlowTracker devices and RD’s Stream Pro ADCP.
We have carried out flow gauging for Natural Resources Wales, Essex and Suffolk Water, National Trust and Irwell Rivers Trust, Aire Rivers Trust, South East Rivers Trust and the Environment Agency as well as private clients (e.g. in support of hydropower assessments, abstraction licence applications, internal drainage boards/water level management plans).
Our team is highly experienced in the development of new, and in the reviewing of existing Stage-Discharge and Velocity-Index ratings. We use our innovative in-house applications to aid hydrometric data review and analysis. To date we have derived over 100 new stage-discharge ratings on behalf of the Environment Agency. We also run training courses on the topic of extrapolation of high flow ratings and use of modelling to extend high flow rating limbs.
Training and support
We are expert trainers in hydrology (our team runs the foundation and advanced level training courses offered within the Environment Agency). We offer a range off-the-shelf courses covering theoretical and practical aspects of hydrological analysis but are equally able to provide tailored training based on real case studies and practical examples.
Validation of historical data during drought periods and time series extension to cover historical droughts
Provision of expert advice on drought frequency analysis and modelling
Drought index calculation, regionally or on a site-specific basis
Low flow frequency analysis and interpretation
Accounting for future climate change impacts on the likely frequency and duration of low flow and drought events
Flow naturalisation and abstraction management
Estimation of natural flows by decomposition or other techniques; characterisation of the impact of artificial influences on catchment flow and the production of residual flow diagrams.
Conceptualisation of the impact of artificial influences for Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies (CAMS) and Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessments.
Detailed modelling for specific abstractions (river and groundwater).
Behavioural modelling of reservoir systems.
Flow estimation and analysis
Developing time series of flow at a suitable timestep using rainfall runoff models or mass balance methods to inform water resources, water quality and catchment flow studies.
Validation and verification of flow estimates using hydrometric and catchment information to give confidence that you are using the best information for your investigation.
Estimation of point flow statistics and flow duration curves using best practice methods and/or Low Flows software.
Our industry experience
Experience of preparing 12 Water Cycle Studies since 2013, including several combined Water Cycle Study and Strategic Flood Risk Assessments
Open and easy to do business with, with a strong focus on innovation and customer service
We use a team of expert technical leads to provide oversight of the assessments of water infrastructure, water resources and water quality modelling
National coverage from 20 offices in the UK and Ireland.
Improving the management of water
Whilst the primary responsibility for delivering water and wastewater services lies with the water companies, Local Planning Authorities can use the planning system to promote solutions which contribute to improving the management of water and provide other benefits, including:
Catchment Based Approaches and nutrient trading schemes to manage diffuse pollution
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) on new-builds and retrofit, including surface water disconnection for combined sewers to create capacity for development
Rainwater harvesting to reduce water demand in water-stressed areas.
Services we offer
Assess the present day and future capacity of the water resources, water supply, wastewater collection and treatment facilities
Identify how increase effluent discharges can be treated without causing detriment or preventing the receiving waster from achieving GES
identifying the responsibilities and timescales for implementing strategic infrastructure upgrades
Providing the evidence base for Local Plan policies on water efficiency, SuDS etc
Climate change analysis and adaptation.
Sustainability investigations
Investigation of impact of Habitats Directive and Water Framework sustainability reductions on water available for supply.
Aquator modelling to inform the impact of abstraction regimes on environmental indicators (e.g. lake water level, downstream river flow) and alternative water sources to support environmental impact assessments.
Assessment of the impact of sustainability reductions
Assessment and scenario modelling of water transfers (intra and intercompany).
Demand modelling and efficiency measures
Modelling of water demand under different scenarios including drought.
Quantification of the impact of drought measures on demand.
Drought planning and management
Development and review of drought triggers
Support for drought permit applications
Historic drought event characterisation
Drought frequency analysis and levels of service
Comparison of historic and extreme.
Climate change
Derivation of climate change inflow datasets for water resources models
Assessment of climate change impacts on available supply
Application of stochastic methods for climate change modelling.
Water resources modelling
Aquator model build and development
Application of Hysim, Mike BASIN, WRAPsim and iThink models
Deployable output assessment for water resource management plans
Investigating the deployable output benefits and utilisation of new sources.
Assessing impacts of flood risk management activity (for example flood drawdown proposals) on water available for supply.
