Publications

Recent SNIFFER flood risk management research publications

Links to project summaries from recently published SNIFFER led flood risk management research and associated events are provided below:

• UKCC10b: Assessing the benefits of flood warning phase 3 (October2009)
• FRM10: Coastal Flooding in Scotland: a Scoping Study (September 2008),  updated FRM10: Coastal Flooding in Scotland: A Scoping Study, in the light of the UK Climate Projections (November 2009), GIS outputs (posted Jan 2010)
• UKCC10a: Assessing the benefits of flood warning phase 2 (April 2008)
• FRM13: SNIFFER flood risk management conference 2008 (March 2008)
• FRM07: Development of a methodology (and identification of responsible parties) for capturing data and information after a flood event in Scotland (July 2007)
• FRM12: SNIFFFER flood risk management conference 2007 (May 2007)
• UKCC10: Assessing the benefits of flood warning phase 1 (September 2006) 
• FRM02: Broad scale ecosystem assessment (BSEA) toolbox 1 (Scotland) (August 2006) 
• FRM05: SNIFFER flood risk management seminar 2006 (May 2006)
• SNIFFER flood risk management service: key achievements 2004-06 (May 2006)

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***2009***

SEPA publications on Flooding

SEPA have a number of publications on flooding at http://www.sepa.org.uk/flooding/flooding_publications.aspx, including information for SMEs on how to prepare for flooding, and briefing notes from the Metropolitan Glasgow Strategic Drainage Partnership. 

Update to Project FRM10: Coastal Flooding in Scotland: A Scoping Study, in the light of the UK Climate Projections (2009) report (November 2009)

The UK Climate Projections (UKCP09) report was issued on 18th June 2009 and contains a number of projections relevant for assessing coastal flooding in Scotland. This update summarises how the assessment of flood risk over 21st century in SNIFFER project FRM10 (Coastal Flooding in Scotland: A Scoping Study, Ball et al., 2008) has changed in the light of UKCP09. In particular, it looks at the projections of sea level change adjusting for land movement, projections for changes in storm surges, and projections for wave action. All are contained in the UKCP09 report ‘Marine and coastal projections’ (‘MCP’).

A summary is available here.

Journal of Flood Risk Management - Volume 2 Issue 4 and Virtual Special Issue on Integrated Operational Flood Management (November 2009)

The eighth issue of the Journal of Flood Risk Management is now available, and the contents can be viewed here. This edition also includes a Virtual Special Issue which focuses on integrated flood risk management and operational flood management. It brings together papers from this issue and others recently published in the Journal in this particular field and will provide a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners.

Recent flooding publications available from the Environment Agency / Defra joint Flood Risk Science Programme (November 2009)

Scoping study on the need for additional research and/or guidance on reservoir conduits (SC080049)

The research was commissioned to review the guidance currently available to reservoir practitioners and to consider the need for further research and/or guidance on the inspection, monitoring, maintenance and repair of conduits in UK reservoirs. The specific objectives of the project were to establish:

• what guidance is currently available in the UK and internationally on the safety assessment of conduits and;
• the need for guidance and its required scope.

Outputs:

Scoping study on the need for additional research and/or guidance on reservoir conduits - Report

http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SCHO1109BRJK-e-e.pdf

Scoping study on the need for additional research and/or guidance on reservoir conduits - Project Summary

http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SCHO1109BRJL-e-e.pdf

Maintaining the Scientific Relevance  of the Conveyance and Afflux Estimation System (SC070032)

The project has identified a wide range of potential enhancements of the CES-AES and prioritised these into a list of potential areas for further work that would improve the functionality/usability of CES-AES to promote wider use and uptake.

This project aims to ensure the scientific relevance of the CES-AES is maintained through:

•  Identifying, tracking and assessing relevant new scientific information and technical developments in practice that have the potential to enhance the capability of the CES-AES.
•  Scoping how advances can be incorporated into the tools in future developments and software releases e.g. calculation updates, new modules. This was undertaken in close collaboration with the user community to ensure the priority reflects the industry and user needs.

Outputs:

Recommendations for Maintaining the Scientific Relevance of the Conveyance and Afflux Estimation System (CES-AES):

http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SCHO1109BRHY-e-e.pdf

Science Summary: Maintaining the Scientific Relevance of the Conveyance Estimation System:

http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SCHO1109BRHY-e-e.pdf

The Implementation of Integrated Urban Drainage (SC070064)

The framework outlined in this report should help local authorities and other organisations to better manage urban flood risk, by helping urban areas to be drained more effectively in the future. This framework will guide investment in research and ensure that its outcomes are translated into practical tools to tackle flooding. The specific objective of the research was to produce a prioritised framework of Urban Drainage research

Outputs:
Research Framework – The Implementation of Integrated Urban Drainage
http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SCHO1009BRCE-e-e.pdf
Summary Title Research Framework – The Implementation of Integrated Urban Drainage
http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SCHO1009BRCF-e-e.pdf

Updated images available on WFDVisual.com (September 2009)

SNIFFER is pleased to announce the addition of a new package of images to www.WFDVisual.com. The website contains images visualising some of the complex processes underpinning the water environment and its management under the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The new package includes over 70 images that are grouped together to tell particular hydrogeological stories, with accompanying explanatory text. There are seven scenarios: monitoring, groundwater flow, floodplains, groundwater and surface water interactions, saline intrusion, karst, and groundwater pollution.

Journal of Flood Risk Management - Volume 2 Issue 3 (August 2009)

The seventh issue of the Journal of Flood Risk Management is now available, and can be viewed here. Contents include articles on pluvial flood risk management and flood warning systems.

Editorial

Journal of Flood Risk Management J. Schanze Published Online: 6 Jul 2009 DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01038.x

Original Articles

Use of a hydrodynamic model to forecast floods of Kalu River in Sri Lanka K.D.W. Nandalal Published Online: 18 May 2009 DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01032.x

Flood risk management and planning policy in a time of policy transition: the case of the Wapshott Road Planning Inquiry, Surrey, England S. Tunstall, S. McCarthy, H. Faulkner Published Online: 9 Apr 2009 DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01030.x

Risk-based design of flood defence systems: a preliminary analysis of the optimal protection level for the New Orleans metropolitan area S.N. Jonkman, M. Kok, M. van Ledden, J.K. Vrijling Published Online: 8 Jun 2009 DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01036.x

Impacts of the summer 2007 floods on agriculture in England H. Posthumus, J. Morris, T.M. Hess, D. Neville, E. Phillips, A. Baylis Published Online: 22 Apr 2009 DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01031.x

Identifying and reducing inadequacies in flood warning processes: an Australian perspective C. Keys, M. Cawood Published Online: 3 Jun 2009 DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01033.x

Pluvial flooding: new approaches in flood warning, mapping and risk management R.H. Falconer, D. Cobby, P. Smyth, G. Astle, J. Dent, B. Golding Published Online: 3 Jun 2009 DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01034.x

Assessing the value of mitigation strategies in reducing the impacts of rapid-onset, catastrophic floods W.M. Johnstone, B.J. Lence Published Online: 8 Jun 2009 DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01035.x

Morbidity and mortality among populations suffering floods in Hunan, China: the role of socioeconomic status B.K. Abuaku, J. Zhou, Xinhua Li, S. Li, Xingli Li, A. Liu, T. Yang, H. Tan Published Online: 1 Jul 2009 DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01037.x

Journal of Flood Risk Management - Volume 2 Issue 2 published (June 2009)

The sixth issue of the Journal of Flood Risk Management is now available. Contents include:

Qualitative analysis of future flood risk in the Taihu Basin, China G.L. Harvey, C.R. Thorne, X. Cheng, E.P. Evans, S. Han J.D. Simm, Y. Wang DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01024.x

Hydrometeorological modelling for flash flood areas: the case of the 2002 Gard event in France S. Anquetin, V. Ducrocq, I. Braud, J.-D. Creutin DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01023.x

Groundwater flood risk management: advances towards meeting the requirements of the EU floods directive D. Cobby, S. Morris, A. Parkes, V. Robinson DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01025.x

Damage and casualties modelling as part of a vulnerability assessment for tsunami hazards: a case study from Aceh, Indonesia M. Marchand, J. Buurman, A. Pribadi, A. Kurniawan DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01027.x

Floods in Tabasco, Mexico: a diagnosis and proposal for courses of action J. Aparicio, P.F. Martínez-Austria, A. Güitrón, A.I. Ramírez DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01026.x

Sources of uncertainty in flood inundation maps J.D. Bales, C.R. Wagner DOI 10.1111/j.1753-318X.2009.01029.x   Please access the journal at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118902539/home .

Journal of Flood Risk Management - Volume 2 Issue 1 published (March 2009)

The fifth issue of the Journal of Flood Risk Management is now available. The Journal aims to become the world's leading platform for knowledge sharing in flood risk management. Readers and authors come from a wide background and include hydrologists, meteorologists, geographers, geomorphologists, conservationists, civil engineers, social scientists, policy makers, insurers and practitioners. The contents of the second issue include:

AUDACIOUS is one of the projects in the EPSRC/UKCIP Building Knowledge for a Changing Climate portfolio, which aimed to:

·          To set out a clear picture of the scope and interactions between the likely problems caused to the performance of existing drainage systems by climate change and urbanisation.

·          To provide new procedures, computer models, and appropriate guidance to facilitate the assessment of climate change and urbanisation impacts, and the development of adaptive responses for building and local drainage systems.

·          To enable and demonstrate the integrated application of these models and procedures within the wider context of drainage and urban systems.

·          To establish the baseline procedures for evaluation of and adaptation to the effects of climate change on existing urban drainage and to disseminate these to a wide audience.

The final reports are available for download from http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/penninewatergroup/publications/reports2.html

SNIFFER project WFD94 WFD and Catchment Remediation Scoping Study published (November 2008)

This project trialed a process for identifying and delivering catchment focused remedial measures to address impacts to river habitat quality (morphology) and ecological status. The project was planned to support the prioritisation of restoration measures under the Water Framework Directive (WFD), and to inform the development of a policy framework for delivering WFD targeted restoration and remediation within Scotland.

Published reports are available to download from:

http://www.sniffer.org.uk/Resources/WFD94/Layout_SustainableLand/9.aspx?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.sniffer.org.uk%3a80%2four-work%2fsustainable-land-use-and-water-management.aspx&selectedtab=completed

First issue of CRUE snapshot now available (August 2008)

The CRUE snapshot is an annual publication from the CRUE ERA-Net Team which provides a quick, but comprehensive update on European based flood risk-related policies and recently completed research.

This synthesis report highlights some of the research results in the area of Flood Risk Management, both from EU-funded and national research. This information is recorded in CRUISE, the CRUE Information System Europe; and is supplemented in the
publication by updates on policy outcomes and other relevant issues.

For further information on the snapshot report and other publications available, visit http://www.crue-eranet.net

RSPB report "Go with the flow"  (August 2008)

Report by Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Scotland on the natural approach to sustainable flood management in Scotland.

Recent flooding publications from Defra (June-July 2008)

 Outline of National Flood Emergency Framework (July 2008)

As part of a major programme to improve the preparedness for severe flooding, Defra has released an outline of a National Flood Emergency Framework. You can view the framework at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/floodincidents/outlinenfef.pdf

 Consultation on promoting property-level flood protection and resilience (July 2008)

Defra has published a consultation on options to increase the use of property-level measures to mitigate the impacts of flooding for homes that have a high chance of flooding every year. The consultation closes on 31 October, and you can find out more about the consultation at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/adaptationandresilience/propertyresillience.htm

 Consultation on policy statement for appraisal on flood and coastal erosion risk management (July 2008)

Defra has published a consultation on their policy statement on appraisal for flooding and coastal erosion risk management. The consultation closes on 31 October, and you can find out more about the consultation at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy/sd3.htm

Joint Defra/EA FCERM R&D report - Developing the evidence base for flood resilience - FD2607 (June 2008)

The research project “FD2607 – Developing the evidence base for flood resistance and resilience” is now available to download from Defra. This project examined the effectiveness of applying flood resistance and resilience to existing properties (both households and businesses), rather than new development.

The project looked at costs and benefits of resistance and resilience measures in reducing flood risk over the long term.  It also investigated a wider range of issues (including current awareness of flood resistance/resilience; impact of insurance; access to information etc) which have influenced the existing use of resistance and resilience methods and how these factors could influence the adoption of these measures in the future.  You can find out more information about this project and/or access the technical report via the following links:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy/FD2607SR.pdf
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy/FD2607TS.pdf

Flood Risk Management Research Consortium: Attribution of flood risk in urban areas

In urban areas, flooding is caused by a mixture of surface water flow and sewer flow, but it is difficult to establish which components of this system have the greatest influence on flood risk because the system is so complex.

As part of the Flood Risk Management Research Consortium (FRMRC), the University of Newcastle has undertaken research to demonstrate an approach which could identify the most important sources of flood risk in urban areas (Phase 1, work package 4.5: system-based analysis). The findings have been published in the Journal of Hydroinformatics:  

Dawson, R. J., Speight, L., Hall, J. W., Djordjevic, S., Savic, D. and Leandro, J. (2008), Attribution of flood risk in urban areas, J. Hydroinformatics, 10(4):275-288. doi: 10.2166/hydro.2008.054. http://www.iwaponline.com/jh/010/4/default.htm

Journal of Flood Risk Management - second issue now available

• The impact of upland land management on flooding: insights from a multiscale experimental and modelling programme B.M. Jackson, H.S. Wheater, N.R. Mcintyre, J. Chell, O.J. Francis, Z. Frogbrook, M. Marshall, B. Reynolds, I. Solloway

• Challenges in urban flood management: travelling across spatial and temporal scales
• C. Zevenbergen, W. Veerbeek, B. Gersonius, S. van Herk
• Using satellite-based rainfall estimates for streamflow modelling: Bagmati Basin
• M.S. Shrestha, G.A. Artan, S.R. Bajracharya, R.R. Sharma
• After the flood: the health and social consequences of the 2005 Carlisle flood event
• I. Convery, C. Bailey
• An investigation of the link between beach morphology and wave climate at Duck, NC, USA
• J.M. Horrillo-Caraballo, D.E. Reeve
• Central European floods 2002: lessons learned in Saxony
• M. Socher, G. Böhme-Korn

Articles, which are freely available to download during 2008, are available from http://www.floodriskmanagement.org

Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics

The Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics was launched on 7 February 2008. The initiative is the Scottish Governments ongoing programme to improve the availability, consistency and accessibility of small area statistics in Scotland. More details about Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics are available from http://www.sns.gov.uk/

The site  is the main way in which the Scottish Government will disseminate the range of small area statistics including information on flooding. SNS provides the % of dwellings in the 1 in 200 fluvial flood risk area, 1 in 200 coastal flood risk area or in either flood risk areas. All data can  be readily downloaded and subsequently analysed using excel.

***2007***

Scottish Government Flooding Issues Advisory Committee (FIAC)  final report, October 2007

The Scottish Government's Flooding Issues Advisory Committee published their final reports in October 2007.  They note that action must be taken to ensure Scotland is better prepared for flooding, and call for key organisations to work together to take a more strategic approach to tackling flood risk management and to ensure communities are adequately protected from flooding. Visit http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Water/Flooding/advisory-groups/fiac/Papers to download copies of the final reports from the Main Committee, Awareness & Assistance, Avoidance and Alleviation sub-committees.

Macaulay research publications on flood management

The Macaulay Institute is working on research to:

• Economic costs and benefits of flood management techniques;
• Full social and environment impacts of flood management techniques; and
• Institutional and organisational issues related to flood management in Scotland

Further information and copies of publications are available at http://www.macaulay.ac.uk/projects/flood

Software for modelling performance of river bridges and other structures at high flows

Research published by Defra and the Environment Agency (and part funded by the Scottish Government).  The software enables flood risk manageemnt and drainage practitioners, Development Control staff and researchers to estimate afflux (defined as the increase in water levels upstream of a structure or other obstruction in a water course).  The software and accompanying documentation can be downloaded from www.river-conveyance.net.

Scottish Flood Defence Asset Database (SFDAD), September 2007

Detailed information and data on the 72 Flood Prevention Schemes constructed since the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 is now available via the web with the launch of the Scottish Flood Defence Asset Database. Flood prevention practitioners and other professionals engaged in flood mitigation and prevention now have a resource that:

As the SFDAD has been compiled with information held by local authorities and the Scottish Government as a primary source, followed up by site investigations and in some cases revised modelling work to calculate the area protected by the schemes, knowledge of its contents and structure is widespread.  A detailed report (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/08/20111904/0) outlining the methods employed to construct SFDAD and the main findings are available, as is a detailed user manual (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/08/20112011/0). These contain specific information on schemes with full detail contained in the database. Public access to details on a specific flood prevention schemes, are available by contacting the local authority responsible for the area where the scheme is located

Social Impacts of Flooding in Scotland (April 2007)

This report, commissioned by the Scottish Executive, presents the findings of a social research project, the aim of which was to assess the range of impacts that experience of recent flooding in Scotland has had on people, their attitudes and behaviours; and to establish "what works" with particular popluation groups and locations in relation to flood prevention campaigns and flood warning/dissemination systems. Click here to access the report.

Scottish Executive publishes new research on the impacts of flooding on Scotland's people, March 2007

This research aimed to assess the range of impacts that experience of recent flooding in Scotland has had on people, their attitudes and behaviours; and to establish "what works" with particular popluation groups and locations in relation to flood prevention campaigns and flood warning/dissemination systems.

Report: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/04/02121350/0

Research Findings Summary: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/04/02121332/0

WWF Scotland publishes new research on natural flood management, February 2007

New data released in reports by WWF Scotland proves that sustainable flood management, or managing floods using natural forces, is highly effective at reducing flood risk.  As well as being proven in its effectiveness, natural flood management is considerably cheaper than building concrete engineered flood defences and has multiple benefits for local authorities, farmers and landowners - as well as for many of the thousands of Scots whose homes are at risk of flooding.

The results are contained in a technical flood manager's guide, 'Flood Planner: A Manual for the natural management of river floods', and an accompanying non-technical report introducing sustainable flood management, 'Slowing the Flow: a natural solution to flooding problems'. Both reports detail the techniques of Natural Flood Management applied to the River Devon in Clackmannanshire.  Visit http://www.wwf.org.uk/news/scotland/n_0000003597.asp for more information.