Communicating flood risk through three-dimensional visualisation

2009

Flood risk communication plays an important role in risk management, because it can strengthen people's risk awareness and can motivate them to take precautionary actions.

The large and ever-increasing amounts of multidimensional, time-varying and geospatial digital information from multiple sources represent a major challenge for today's analysts. We present a set of visualization techniques that can be used for the interactive analysis of geo-referenced and time sampled data sets, providing an integrated mechanism and that aids the user to collaboratively explore, present and communicate visually complex and dynamic data. Here we present these concepts in the context of a 4 hour flood scenario from Lisbon in 2010, with data that includes measures of water column (flood height) every 10 minutes at a 4.5 m x 4.5 m resolution, topography, building damage, building information, and online base maps. Techniques we use include web-based linked views, multiple charts, map layers and storytelling. We explain two of these in more detail that are not currently in common use for visualization of data: storytelling and web-based linked views. Visual storyte...

Journal of Flood Risk Management, 2010

The January 2005 flood event in the Eden catchment (UK) has focused considerable research effort towards strengthening and extending operational flood forecasting in the region. The Eden catchment has become a key study site within the remit of phase two of the Flood Risk Management Research Consortium. This paper presents a synthesis of results incorporating model uncertainty analysis, computationally efficient real-time data assimilation/forecasting algorithms, two-dimensional (2D) inundation modelling, and data visualization for decision support. The emphasis here is on methods of presenting information from a new generation of probabilistic flood forecasting models. Using Environment Agency rain and river-level gauge data, a data-based mechanistic model is identified and incorporated into a modified Kalman Filter (KF) data assimilation algorithm designed for real-time flood forecasting applications. The KF process generates forecasts within a probabilistic framework. A simulation of the 6-h ahead forecast for river levels at Sheepmount (Carlisle) covering the January 2005 flood event is presented together with methods of visualizing the associated uncertainty. These methods are then coupled to the 2D hydrodynamic LISFLOOD-FP model to produce real-time flood inundation maps. The value of incorporating probabilistic information is emphasized.

Journal of Flood Risk …, 2010

The January 2005 flood event in the Eden catchment (UK) has focused considerable research effort towards strengthening and extending operational flood forecasting in the region. The Eden catchment has become a key study site within the remit of phase two of the Flood Risk Management Research Consortium. This paper presents a synthesis of results incorporating model uncertainty analysis, computationally efficient real-time data assimilation/forecasting algorithms, twodimensional (2D) inundation modelling, and data visualization for decision support. The emphasis here is on methods of presenting information from a new generation of probabilistic flood forecasting models. Using Environment Agency rain and river-level gauge data, a data-based mechanistic model is identified and incorporated into a modified Kalman Filter (KF) data assimilation algorithm designed for real-time flood forecasting applications. The KF process generates forecasts within a probabilistic framework. A simulation of the 6-h ahead forecast for river levels at Sheepmount (Carlisle) covering the January 2005 flood event is presented together with methods of visualizing the associated uncertainty. These methods are then coupled to the 2D hydrodynamic LISFLOOD-FP model to produce real-time flood inundation maps. The value of incorporating probabilistic information is emphasized. Cumulative distribution plots showing the probability that the 6-h ahead forecast level will be greater than each of the six warning threshold levels. Vertical lines show the observed time of crossing for each threshold.

2018

Climate change has serious implications on our environment. Examples of such natural risks are massive rainfalls and the rise of ocean levels. Millions of people are exposed to the risk of extreme floods and storms. It is therefore crucial to develop analytical tools that allow us to evaluate the threats of floods and to investigate the influence of mitigation and adaptation measures, such as stronger dikes, adaptive spatial planning, and flood disaster plans. The objective of our work is to present a flood management system that aims to model and visualize floods. It provides realistic images to help users in understanding and interpreting these disaster scenarios. In order to investigate the applicability in practice, we illustrated the use of our system for real-world data in a case study for the city of Paris, France.

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

Many factors shape public perceptions of extreme weather risk; understanding these factors is important to encourage preparedness. This article describes a novel workshop designed to encourage individual and community decision-making about predicted storm surge flooding. Over 160 U.S. college students participated in this 4-h experience. Distinctive features included 1) two kinds of visualizations, standard weather forecasting graphics versus 3D computer graphics visualization; 2) narrative about a fictitious storm, role-play, and guided discussion of participants’ concerns; and 3) use of an “ethical matrix,” a collective decision-making tool that elicits diverse perspectives based on the lived experiences of diverse stakeholders. Participants experienced a narrative about a hurricane with potential for devastating storm surge flooding on a fictitious coastal college campus. They answered survey questions before, at key points during, and after the narrative, interspersed with forec...

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 2015

Developing strategies to mitigate or to adapt to the threats of floods is an important topic in the context of climate changes. Many of the world's cities are endangered due to rising ocean levels and changing precipitation patterns. It is therefore crucial to develop analytical tools that allow us to evaluate the threats of floods and to investigate the influence of mitigation and adaptation measures, such as stronger dikes, adaptive spatial planning, and flood disaster plans. Up until the present, analytical tools have only been accessible to Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change domain experts, as the involved simulation processes are complex and rely on computational and data-intensive models. Outputs of these analytical tools are presented to practitioners (i.e., policy analysts and political decision-makers) on maps or in graphical user interfaces. In practice, this output is only used in limited measure because practitioners often have different information requirements or do not trust the direct outcome. Nonetheless, literature indicates that a closer collaboration between domain experts and practitioners can ensure that the information requirements of practitioners are better aligned with the opportunities and limitations of analytical tools. The objective of our work is to present a step forward in the effort to make analytical tools in flood management accessible for practitioners to support this collaboration between domain experts and practitioners. Our system allows the user to interactively control the simulation process (addition of water sources or influence of rainfall), while a realistic visualization allows the user to mentally map the results onto the real world. We have developed several novel algorithms to present and interact with flood data. We explain the technologies, discuss their necessity alongside test cases, and introduce a user study to analyze the reactions of practitioners to our system. We conclude that, despite the complexity of flood simulation models and the size of the involved data sets, our system is accessible for practitioners of flood management so that they can carry out flood simulations together with domain experts in interactive work sessions. Therefore, this work has the potential to significantly change the decision-making process and may become an important asset in choosing sustainable flood mitigations and adaptation strategies.

2016

The FLOOD AR project originates from an explicitly expressed need for digital 3D temporal georeferenced models that can be largely diffused among riverside residents through computers and mobile devices, in order to support the raising of public awareness concerning flood risk along the Rhone river. This project is led by a multidisciplinary consortium of researchers from several fields who are working together to develop usable tools and models as well as recommendations regarding visual content, interfaces and context of use for those 3D models. As far as computer science is concerned, given the practical difficulties of resorting to 3D georeferenced technologies for practitioners and the current limitations of commonly used GIS data formats and tools, automatic tools allowing any interested parties to produce 3D temporal models in order to support flood risk awareness' enhancement were developed in the first phase of the project. The storage of those 3D models in an interoper...

2017

The work presented in this paper was partially funded by the ongoing H2020 EC project EU-CIRCLE (2015-2018), GA 653824.

2019

Flood is a natural disaster caused directly by excessive amount of rain water, or indirectly by the global warming. Flood information can be disseminated using visual media such as 3D flood modelling. This study uses qualitative methods to review frequently used computer tools in 3D flood modelling. Currently, the generated 3D geovisualization results produced by the 3D modelling tools are lacking in terms of their aesthetics value. The purpose of this study is to analyse and select effective 3D geovisualization tools that could be merged with multimedia tools to create better aesthetics images. This study can offer insights into creating future 3D geovisualization based on spatial and non-spatial data that are more realistic and rich with aesthetics value. The analysis was conducted using SWOT analysis in order to find out strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of each tools. Result shows that some commonly used 3D geovisualization tools such as ArcGIS and FME can be comb...

Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences, 2015

We propose and investigate the reliability of simplified graphical tools, which we term Hypsometric Vulnerability Curves, HVCs, for assessing flood vulnerability and risk over large geographical areas and for defining sustainable flood-risk mitigation strategies. These curves rely on the use of inundation scenarios simulated by means of quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2-D) hydrodynamic models that reproduce the hydraulic behaviour of the floodable area outside the main embankment system of the study river reach. We present an application of HVCs constructed on the basis of land use and census data collected during the last 50 years for assessing the recent dynamics of the flood vulnerability and risk over a large floodable area along a 350 km stretch of the River Po (Northern Italy). We also compared the proposed simplified approach with a traditional approach based on simulations performed with the fully-2-D hydrodynamic model TELEMAC-2-D, a widely employed and well-known 2-D finite-element scheme. By means of this comparison, we characterize the accuracy of the proposed simplified approach (i.e. quasi-2-D model and HVCs) for flood-risk assessment over large geographical areas and different historical land-use scenarios.

International Conference on Information and Knowledge Management, Proceedings, 2007

This paper describes initial work on developing an information system to gather, process and visualise various multimedia data sources related to the South Yorkshire (UK) floods of 2007. The work is part of the Memoir project which aims to investigate how technology can help people create and manage long-term personal memories. We are using maps to aggregate multimedia data and to stimulate remembering past events. The paper describes an initial prototype; challenges faced so far and planned future work.

Environmental Hazards, 2009

In order to mitigate flood hazards and to minimize associated losses, technical protection measures have been additionally and increasingly supplemented by non-technical mitigation, i.e. land-use planning activities. This is commonly done by creating maps which indicate such areas by different cartographic symbols, such as colour, size, shape and typography. Hazard and risk mapping is the accepted procedure when dealing with natural hazards and is therefore required in the European Member States in order to meet the demands of the European Flood Risk Directive. However, available information is sparse concerning the impact of such maps on different stakeholders, i.e. specialists in flood risk management, politicians and affected citizens. The lack of information stems from a traditional approach to map production which does not take into account specific end-user needs. In order to overcome this information shortage the current study used a circular approach such that feedback mechanisms originating from different perception patterns of the end user would be considered. Different sets of small-scale as well as large-scale risk maps were presented to different groups of test persons in order to (1) study reading behaviour as well as understanding and (2) deduce the most attractive components that are essential for target-oriented communication of cartographic information. Therefore, the method of eye tracking was applied using a video-oculography technique. This resulted in a suggestion for a map template which fulfils the requirement to serve as an efficient communication tool for specialists and practitioners in hazard and risk mapping as well as for laypersons. Taking the results of this study will enable public authorities who are responsible for flood mitigation to (1) improve their flood risk maps, (2) enhance flood risk awareness and, therefore, (3) create more disaster-resilient communities.

10th Annual Conference of the International Institute for Infrastructure Renewal and Reconstruction, 2014

Widespread flooding with significant damage in many countries, such as the Philippines in 2013, highlights the ongoing need for effective flood risk management (FRM). This hinges on comprehensive access to and dissemination of information about the elements and the people at risk. Simulations, real-time graphs, and maps illustrate the spatial distribution of flood risks, spatial allocation and dissemination of flood effects, if flood risk reduction measures are not implemented, as well as the benefits to be derived from the effective implementation and maintenance of flood risk management measures not realized. Using precipitation, river water, and tide levels, a real-time monitoring site was set up for the Shirakawa River, Kumamoto, Japan. The data gathered from the July 2012 flood event is used as a demonstrator, illustrating a flood event as well as how to utilize the information provided on this site to determine the future time and possibility of flooding. Additionally, an electronically generated flood hazard map making process is being developed for distribution across Japan. These illustrative approaches can be utilized in cities and communities around the globe.

International Journal of Risk and Contingency Management, 2012

Communication plays an essential role in risk awareness when the gap between the risk perception and the actual risk depends on correct knowledge. This study investigates public risk awareness and public participation, as part of the European project Integrative flood risk governance approach for improvement of risk awareness and increased public participation (IMRA). The focus is on perceptions of flood risk awareness in the river basin of Chiascio (Umbria-Italy). The survey method is used to analyze flood risk awareness perception before and after an experimental communication intervention with school students. First, the authors examine flood risk awareness of school student families and friends across the population sample region. Then the authors use a unique combination of exercises – a role play game, an exhibition, and a public competition – to improve risk awareness in school children and their families. Finally, the authors test the effectiveness of this intervention in te...