Two EU-funded projects are keeping people and their homes safe with the creation of an early warning system for coastal storms, and a system to help local authorities, builders and developers plan ahead.
MICORE project develops early warning system
The EU-funded project MICORE created an early warning system by simulating hazards caused by storm waves eroding coastlines. The software aims to help improve disaster forecasting and response methods, in turn increasing public safety.
The system was based on open-source code. It provides information on wave and tide conditions and more detailed morphological information for specific sites, from Ravenna in the Mediterranean Sea to Varna in the Black Sea; and from Poland’s Baltic coast to Belgium’s North Sea.
Atlantic coastlines along southern Spain (Cádiz) and Portugal (Algarve) are included, as well as Irish Sea coastlines. During the project, which ended in September 2011, prototypes were made available free of charge online, providing real-time information.
Project coordinator Paolo Ciavola of Italy’s University of Ferrara explained that the early warning system is flexible enough to be used for a variety of coastal areas.
“We believe the approach we have developed is exportable,” he said. “For example, in Italy we initially tested it on one beach but we are now applying it to the 130 km of the Emilia-Romagna region, where local authorities supported us in maintaining it, making it one of the most successful stories of knowledge transfer from scientists to end-users. We have been cooperating with the United States Geological Survey and they are applying a similar approach in California. So the format is widely applicable.”
Some of the former project partners are now working together in the EU-funded project RISC-KIT to improve the software.
THESEUS project provides guidance and advice
Europe’s regions are vulnerable to coastal flooding in different ways. After studying the scientific, social, economic and environmental aspects of such flooding, the EU-funded project THESEUS put together guidance and advice to help builders and local authorities keep homes and infrastructures safe no matter what the region’s geographical or physical characteristics.
The package of software tools includes a decision support system. Decision makers simply need to input the conditions they are dealing with. “The short, medium and long-term effects of building or developing with coastal communities can then be identified,” said THESEUS coordinator Barbara Zanuttigh of Italy’s University of Bologna.
The project’s handbook aims to help coastal managers apply the THESEUS methodology and select the best mitigation options. This is backed by a package of policy briefs to help decision makers identify strengths and weaknesses in existing policies, as well as key challenges they need to address.
European Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said:
“Flooding affects thousands of Europeans each year and with climate change underway, it could affect many more in the future. EU research, funded under the Horizon 2020 programme, is helping to protect citizens and Europe’s economic wellbeing.”
Both the MICORE and THESEUS research projects were funded by the European Union under its Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (2007-2013). Both brought together universities and research centres. MICORE received €3.5 million in EU funding for partners in nine EU countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, UK), while THESEUS received €6.5 million in EU funding and brought together partners from 12 EU countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Spain, UK) with counterparts from Ukraine, Russia, Mexico, China, Taiwan and the USA.
The European Union launched its new Horizon 2020 research and innovation funding programme in January 2014 which will see almost €80 billion invested in research and innovation projects over the next seven years.
Click here for more information on the RISCKIT project
Click here for more information on the MICORE project
Click here for more information on the THESEUS project
Click here for more information on the upcoming Flood Defence and Prevention Expo and conference in London in December
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Börger UK, which has firmly established itself as a leading pump brand since it was set up in Staffordshire in 2004, has moved into bigger, brand-new premises in Shrewsbury.
HUBER Technology UK & Ireland are inviting people to register for their March webinar where they will be providing information about HUBER water intake screens for municipal and industrial applications.
Sulzer has launched a new global Center of Excellence (CoE) for Water Treatment Solutions - the CoE consolidates Sulzer’s wastewater treatment expertise in a unified and global manner.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.