Science dAILY
october 29th, 2012
Scientists
have devised a new solution to provide real-time predictions of floods caused
by climate change and human activities. The RAMWASS research project devised a
tool that was able to measure and predict the dangers of potential flood in
specific river zones. The system uses a combination of environmental data from
satellites, sensors and information from the ground to render a 3-D model
result of the flood with maps of water speeds, flows and elevations. It also
provides risk maps and flood times. The results are available online with the
use of a system developed by CIMNE and are accurate to the minute. This helps
with emergency situations especially when conditions of a flood are known to
change instantly. The system offers protection at a low cost. This allows for
places to be evacuated potentially days in advance and reduced flood losses and
deaths. It can help governments and funding agencies to test “what-if”
situations that may cause harm to people and public or private property.
I
believe this is an essential part of emergency predictions. The techniques used
today to predict flash floods are primitive. Climate change is progressing and
human activity is potentially to blame. This new technology allows us to
monitor emergency situations that are caused by environmental factors, climate
change and human activity. It allows areas that may be destroyed to be
evacuated in advance and to prevent floods from escalating to emergency-floods.
It also allows governments and other companies to simulate potential emergency
situations and plan ahead to avoid them entirely.
With the potential increase of global warming, more violent storms are likely and with these storms come floods and droughts in many areas of the world. This is a really great piece of technology for predicting potential flood zones. Does this also predict ocean flooding or merely where the river banks are?
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