About the project
Flood models are essential for helping to manage and mitigate the annual £2.2B cost of flooding to the UK. However, one of the big uncertainties that remains in these models is how complex floodplains are characterised under a range of real-world conditions. This project will use new technologies in flow monitoring to meet this challenge. Specifically, Computer Vision Stream Gauging (CVSG) offers a way off characterizing complex flows over floodplains.
The issue is further complicated by the fact that roughness varies during floods as the flow interacts with vegetation. The flood hydraulics schemes within models are based largely on empirical data, but the challenge of gathering the data needed *during the flood event itself* means that underpinning data are biased towards lower, more manageable, flows.
We will deploy Computer Vision Stream Gauging (CVSG) across a range of floodplains, leveraging NERC’s exciting new multi-million investment in Floods & Droughts Research Infrastructure (F&DRI). The data obtained will be analysed to provide insights into the dynamic adjustments of roughness during floods, and develop roughness parameterisations that will be deployed into flood models to benchmark their improved performance.
Computer Vision Stream Gauging (CVSG) best practice will also be developed to understand applications/site limitations of the technology.
Please contact the lead supervisor if you require further information about the project.
