June 2011

UrbanFlood is a project under the European Union 7^th framework Programme* that develops and tests an internet based early warning system (EWS). The project started in December 2009.

Project coordinator Robert Meijer: “Right now we are half way, and I am quite happy with the progress. The project is achieving its goals, we deliver a software factory that generates EWS as promised and the EWS technology that we have developed for dike monitoring and flood safety is really setting new standards. Our interactive decision support is shown at many places, the most recent in the control room of the impressive St Petersburg dam. In May and June BBC World News showed our technology five times to a global audience. Personally I think that the largest achievement was to start monitoring a dam in Australia from Europe. As trivial it was to achieve this with the UrbanFlood EWS factory, it really shows how the information society will tackle large scale issues in our human society and our environment. It shows how the internet will organize human and machine intelligence all around the world to tackle serious issues.”

The project is carried out by a consortium of Cyfronet (Poland), HR Wallingford (United Kingdom), OOO Siemens (Russia), STOWA, TNO and University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands).

This newsletter informs about the progress and impact of the UrbanFlood project.

2^nd UrbanFlood Workshop

Thursday 3 November 2011 – Amsterdam, the Netherlands

The workshop we have held in November 2010 has attracted many companies. Together with a Czech SMW we now have developed a Eureka project, and with a large Dutch company we develop an ESA project. In November 2011 we will organize our second International Workshop. We really would like to encourage all companies and institutes working in this field to come and discuss cooperation.

“Intelligent dike monitoring for the 21^st century – Experience in Embankment Monitoring”: the theme for the 2^nd UrbanFlood International Workshop –November 3, 2011 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.. … more

UrbanFlood on BBC World News!

Rising sea levels mean more and more of the world is at risk of flooding. In this episode of BBC World News – Horizons we look at the next generation of flood defences and how Dutch expertise and technology can help other areas around the world. Follow this link and select episode 4 to see how UrbanFlood can contribute.

The UrbanFlood project selected Boston (UK) as one of the pilot sites for an Early Warning System framework that can be used to link sensors via the Internet to predictive models and emergency warning systems.

Sites around the world monitored by UrbanFlood

More and more sites are online and monitored by UrbanFlood, the network is now worldwide with the inclusion of a UK and an Australian site.

The sites monitored by UrbanFlood are:

Ø  Eemshaven, The Netherlands

Ø  Boston United Kingdom

Ø  Stammerdijk Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Ø  Vechtdijk Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Ø  Dike next to Zeelandbrug, The Netherlands

Ø  Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

UrbanFlood ‘dashboard’

The UrbanFlood EWS has developed a dashboard that can be used in a web browser. The dashboard will give you access to several of the sites that are now monitored, though access to some has been restricted for the public. Take a look at a dike in Australia, or in the Netherlands. … more

Saint Petersburg Consortium Meeting

Non-flood Early Warning Systems

Project coordinator Robert Meijer: “The UrbanFlood system is really a general purpose facility to create and manage monitor and control systems. We have stated before that UrbanFlood tests the system for the case of flooding caused by dike or flood barrier failure. I have stimulated co-workers to use it for other purposes. One colleague uses the UrbanFlood technology for anomaly detection in his smart home; another is using an EWS to monitor sensors attached to an huge bridge in the Netherlands. However, flood safety applications tend to have the most interest.

In the Spotlight: Ilya Mokhov

Ilya Mokhov, Senior Engineer “Monitoring and Preventive Control” and WP leader of Work Package 6, has worked miracles in organising a very informative tour to the Saint Petersburg barrier during the UrbanFlood Consortium Meeting last May. The preparations made by him and the Siemens team saved the UrbanFlood partners a huge detour, by arranging official permission to drive the bus through the tunnel under the ship passage, even though work was still ongoing and the tunnel was officially closed for traffic! This also made it possible to visit the Peter the Great Cottage at the Peterhof, a true cultural and historical gem. Three cheers for Ilya and Siemens for arranging a very well-organised and successful Consortium Meeting in Saint Petersburg!

Events

Inauguration and information event at the Boston, UK monitoring site, September 2011, in Boston, England.

Field visit: Flood Early Warning in the Amsterdam area, Tuesday 1 November, afternoon (to be confirmed)

Professional Workshop: Embankment Monitoring and Early Warning, Wednesday 2 November 2011, NEMO, Amsterdam

2^nd UrbanFlood Workshop: “Intelligent dike monitoring for the 21^st century – Experience in Embankment Monitoring”. 3 November 2011, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

International Water Week Amsterdam (IWWA), October 31-November 4, 2011 in Amsterdam,

For the most recent details on events see www.urbanflood.eu. … more

UrbanFlood Newsletter

For inquiries regarding this newsletter you can contact the UrbanFlood webmaster, Jacqueline Bredius at [email protected]. If you would like to receive this newsletter please send her an e-mail with your contact details: name, organisation and e-mail address. To unsubscribe you can send an email with the title or text ‘unsubscribe’.

UrbanFlood is a European project under the EU 7^th framework Programme*. For more details please visit the UrbanFlood website www.urbanflood.euor contact the project coordinator: Robert Meijer (TNO The Netherlands)

* UrbanFlood, a project funded under the EU Seventh Framework Programme, Theme ICT-2009.6.4a. ICT for Environmental Services and Climate Change Adaption. Grant agreement no. 248767. Project from December 1, 2009 until November 30, 2012

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