A competition which is focused on the Environment Agency’s need to measure river flows in challenging locations where existing standard instrumentation cannot be used closes tomorrow.
The competition is being funded through the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI). Under SBRI, developments are 100 % funded and focus on specific identified needs, increasing the chance of exploitation. The Environment Agency are to invest £415k in the development of river flow monitoring technology for challenging environments.
Over 5.5 million, or one in six, properties are at risk of flooding from all types of floods across England and Wales. The latest UKCP09 climate change projections indicate rising sea levels and increasingly severe and frequent rainstorms mean the risk of floods will increase.
The competition is focussed on the Environment Agency's need to measure river flows in challenging locations where existing standard instrumentation cannot be used. However, a solution that could also be deployed in less demanding/normal river conditions would be ideal.
The Environment Agency requires a non-intrusive method of river flow measurement which is capable of measuring river flows to bank full in rivers with variable backwater, weed growth and with a mobile load.
There are solutions currently in existence, but growing EU and operational restrictions now requires the Environment Agency to invest in innovative solutions which are able to meet specific requirements, including:
- Not impeding fish passage
- Be cost effective
- Minimise hydro-geological damage
The competition will be in 2 Phases. Phase 1 will address the feasibility of the proposed solution - ideally providing a demonstration that the solution can meet the required technical specifications. Phase 2 should aim to deliver a prototype that has been tested in the field under supervision of the Environment Agency.
The specifications for the demonstrator in this competition must meet legal requirements specified by European Union legislation (particularly the Water Framework Directive) . A low-cost solution which meets these European-wide requirements could add a vital new technology into a global market.
Priority requirements include:
- a cost-effective solution
- minimise the need for in-channel civil engineering works
- the solution must provide data outputs that can be ported into Environment Agency telemetry systems
- the solution should be low maintenance
- it should be able to be supported and maintained by non-specialist staff with moderate technical skills
- to be able to measure flows in channels that are affected by in channel weed growth and mobile beds
- to be able to measure flows to local bank full level
- the solution should measure flows to an accuracy of 6 to 15% or better in the range of flows of interest
- not affect fish migration, both upstream and downstream
- have a minimal impact on river fauna and flora and sediment transport
- meet as many of the aspirational specifications as possible for the proposed new technology (highlighted in the competition brief)
Tomorrow is the deadline for applications for entry in the competition.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome on 12 November 2014, followed by the award of contracts on 5 December 2014.
Click here for further information.
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