Latest news

[Course] Uncertainty Quantification and Propagation — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 18:23

Unicom are pleased to announce the above workshop, which is presented by Professor Roger M. Cooke of the Delft Institute for Applied Mathematics, Delft University of Technology, well-known for his work in mathematical methods of risk analysis, uncertainty analysis and expert judgement.

HR Wallingford / FloodRiskNet performance and reliability workshop: REGISTER NOW — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:49

This workshop is intended to disseminate the findings of research on the Performance and reliability of flood and coastal defences - Project FD2318 in the Risk Theme of the Joint Defra/EA Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management R&D Programme. This project has explored ways to assess the performance and reliability of flood and coastal defences in order to make better assessments of risk. It directly supports Defra and Environment Agency policies, strategies and new decision-making tools for flood and coastal risk management. The project reviewed a range of methods for assessing the reliability of different types of defences, including their deterioration in time. It then focussed on developing practical methods for assessing reliability of using fragility curves . This workshop will present the main findings of the project including the methodology developed to construct fragility curves. Further research on reliability methods of sewer systems and time dependent reliability will be introduced. The workshop is aimed at those carrying out, or with an interest in, flood and coastal risk assessment. It will describe the scientific and practical basis for fragility curves, and their role in the risk and performance based management framework.

Science Magazine: NOAA Loses Funding to Gather Long-Term Climate Data — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:49

Science Magazine is reporting that Congress has eliminated funding for a fledgling network of 110 observation stations intended to provide a definitive, long-term climate record for the United States.

Flood Submissions to EGU Vulnerability Assessment Session — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 18:25

EGU 2005 Vulnerability Assessment Session<BR> Call for posters and presentations.<BR> Abstract submission deadline: 21 January 2005.<BR> EGU 2005 http://www.copernicus.org/EGU/ga/egu05/index.htm

[Conference] EGS-AGU-EUG Assembly session: Flood modelling, risk uncertainty and decision making — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:48

Predicting current and future flood risk continues to be a major challenge for climatologists, hydrologists and hydraulicians. Flood risk predictions are thus characterised by considerable uncertainty, which needs to be evaluated and clearly communicated to decision-makers. Whilst we have a good qualitative understanding of the factors, such as climatic changes, land use effects and human interference in river channels and on flood plains, which lead to changes in flood frequency and flood risk, there is a clear requirement for further quantitative studies. The non-stationary nature of flood risk also challenges established risk assessment methodologies and their modelling components, such as extreme value statistics and hydraulic simulation. This session aims to review state-of-the-art flood risk assessment methodologies on different scales and experiences of recent flood events through studies that have looked at changing flood risk in terms of changes in process drivers, the physical processes occurring during flood flows and uncertainties in measurement data and modelling. We welcome submissions in the areas of changing flood frequency and risk, flood hydraulics, flood modelling, flood plain risk assessment and uncertainty analysis, and floodplain management including new approaches to hydraulic and hydrologic modelling, model calibration and validation, risk mitigation measures.

[EGU] Session: Natural Catastrophe Risk Modelling — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:47

Co-convened by Jane Toothill of Guy Carpenter Instrat, this session in the Natural Hazards programme of the EGU General Assembly aims to consider, "the practical application of recent advances in risk modelling methodologies to the commerical and social environment."

[ISDR] Guidelines for Reducing Flood Losses — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:47

This publication aims at providing decision-makers with a range of options to consider for reducing losses associated with flooding. As an inter-agency effort reflecting the multisectoral nature of disaster risk reduction, the guidelines draw on the experience of various partners including the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA NOAA), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR), with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

SCARR ESRC Network: SCARR - Social Contexts and Responses to Risk — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:45

This network brings together sociologists, psychologists, economists, experts on social policy, the media, socio-legal studies and law and other social scientists from 14 universities in nine linked projects. The research examines perceptions of and responses to risk in a range of areas, including sexual behaviour and partnering choices, pensions and financial planning, industrial pollution, crime, transport and environmental hazards. The network will contribute to public policy by focusing on risk in everyday life settings, rather than the hypothetical contexts to which social science theories often refer. It will also promote academic work, particularly through the sharing of insights and approaches across disciplines. Core finance is from a grant of £2.8 million from ESRC.

Journal of Meteorology: Boscastle flood special issue — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:45

The Journal of Meteorology has just released a special issue focusing on the Boscastle flood and subtitled, "A comprehensive assessment of geology, meteorology, risk and insurance." The issue is available for purchase at £5.99.

[EFRA] Climate Change, Water Security and Flooding — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:45

The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has published a report on Climate Change, Water Security and Flooding.

European Commission proposes concerted action on flood risk management — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:44

The European Commission has proposed concerted EU action on flood risk management to improve protection against flooding.

[FRMRC] Flood Risk Management Research Consortium web site live — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:44

The web site of the EPSRC Flood Risk Management Research Consortium is live at

[ACTIF] Call for papers/posters: Workshop on uncertainty in flood forecasting — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:42

The objective of this workshop is to facilitate exchange of ideas, information, and expertise in the area of quantification, reduction and dissemination of uncertainty in flood forecasting and to provide an opportunity for ACTIF members to meet and to discuss the preparation of the best practise papers. The workshop is aimed also to serve as a platform to promote contact between R&D groups dealing with flood forecasting and warning.

[CORDIS] Two billion will live in the path of extreme floods by 2050, researchers warn — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:32

"The number of people living under the threat of devastating floods is set to double from one billion today to two billion by 2050 unless more attention is paid to prevention and prediction, according to researchers at the United Nations University (UNU)."

Winter 2004 newsletter out — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:31

The Winter 2004 FloodRiskNet newsletter is now available.

[CORDIS] Inundated with the right information to protect against floods — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:31

"The OSIRIS project responded [to the floods of 1997 and 2002] by targeting citizens, enterprises, local authorities and emergency centres located in three pilot sites of two river basins: the Loire and the Oder. Their objectives: to raise awareness of the risks and involving citizens in prevention measures; to prepare effective protection and rescue strategies before, during and after a flood; and to improve access to, and quality of, information."

CPD Course in Flood Modelling — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:31

Short Course on Flood Modelling at the University of Glasgow 6th-9th September 2004

Press coverage of Foresight "Future Flooding" report — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:30

The OST Foresight Flood and Coastal Defence project today published its report "Future Flooding".

[ISSH-2005] First Call for Papers — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:29

The first call for papers has been issued for the International Symposium on Stochastic Hydraulics, to be held in Nijmegen, The Netherlands on 23-24 May, 2005.

Flood Risk Management Research Consortium Announced — by Hamish Harvey — last modified 2006-03-28 17:28

The Flood Risk Management Research Consortium has been announced on the EPSRC web site.