How do we measure floodplain flows? Whether you are an early career hydrologist, a seasoned modeller working in industry or a hydrological researcher, join FDRI and BHS to seek innovative methods to measuring and monitoring floodplain water levels and flows.
The problem
Data from floodplains are crucial for flood forecast and risk estimates, including for ungauged sites. As the history of the UK peak flows database shows, the accurate estimation of peak flows for individual sites is not straightforward: re-assessments have led to peak flows being halved or doubled with the benefits of re-assessments using the latest available information and methods. This affects our ability to prepare and mitigate future flood risk effectively.
Where flood flow measurement is possible during an event, floats or Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) may be used for velocity assessment, but often it’s only water levels which can be known with a good level of accuracy, and then LiDAR or manual survey may be combined with hydrodynamic models in order to simulate flows which may then be scrutinised e.g. with data from a nearby gauging station (if dependable) or the best available rainfall data, or both.
Meeting the challenge through this collaborative workshop
The Flood and Drought Research Infrastructure (FDRI) provides the funding and practical infrastructure for us to revisit the long-recognised challenges of floodplain flow measurement and consider the best prospects for reduce uncertainty of flood flow measurements. The meeting will extend to related topics including storage assessment in washlands and the role of technical standards.
Workshop structure
Further session details will be shared prior to the workshop
Speakers include: Dr Nick Everard (UKCEH), Dr Andrew Black (University of Dundee) and David Cameron (JBA)
Day one:
- A morning of talks from regulators, researchers and industry on floodplain flow methods, including case studies
- Field visit from 12:45 - 6pm – floodplain sites along the River Tweed
- Lunch included
Day two:
- A morning of parallel technical workshops led by highly-experienced hydrologists at JBA Consulting and the National River Flow Archive (NRFA). Participants will be introduced to the data available for assessing peak flows at river gauging stations and led through the process of evaluating competing estimates
- Optional lunch included, with the day ending by 12:30pm
Who should attend?
- Anyone concerned with measuring or modelling floodplain flows
- Anyone who uses estimates of flood peak flows and wants to know more
- Early career researchers working in flood hydrology
Costs
Thanks to FDRI support, in-person and online access to the workshop will be free, including field trip and lunch for in-person participants. Accommodation and transport into Edinburgh will be participants' responsibility to source and fund.
Owing to venue and field visit limitations, in person attendance is limited to 40 registrations on a first-come first-served basis.
Jointly organised by:
