Client: Environment Agency
In 2010, the Environment Agency produced Reservoir Flood Maps (RFM) for large raised reservoirs at a national scale across England and Wales. Those maps are used to inform a range of applications including emergency planning, reservoir risk designation, spatial planning and community awareness. BMT with partners JBA and Mott McDonald are delivering a major update of these maps using latest advances and innovations in software and hardware to reflect technical advances in dam break analysis, hydrology, computational hydraulic flood modelling and digital terrain models.
Outcomes and Benefits
The primary users of the Reservoir Flood Maps are Local Resilience Forums (LRFs). LRFs use these maps for emergency planning to prevent or mitigate impact on local communities. Outputs will also be used by reservoir owners, panel engineers, spatial planners and the community to assess the possible consequences of dam failure. To produce high resolution, national-scale maps as efficiently as possible, the project team harnessed the benefits of a secure, cloud-based solution together with bespoke coding to maximise automation of workflows.
Services and Expertise Provided:
The Brisbane River Catchment Flood Study is the most detailed and comprehensive flood study ever undertaken in Australia. The hydraulic models that were developed underwent rigorous calibration. A sophisticated Monte Carlo approach was used to hydraulically model 11,340 flooding scenarios. The result was a robust and defendable set of design events. The study was fully peer reviewed by a panel of independent experts.
BMT was appointed to review the methodology and modelling to inform a Flood Risk Assessment in Essex. Following the review recommendations for any limitations of the Flood risk Assessment have been sent to the client in a technical note.
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BMT developed a 3D hydrodynamic and water quality model of the region around the Abrolhos Islands in Western Australia. In collaboration with BMT and the University of Western Australia, model results were used to assess the impact of proposed finfish aquaculture on the surrounding environment.