Public Administration News
Share
 |
Australia: 12m Flood Alert Program |
| Source: |
theage.com.au |
| Source Date: |
Monday, May 02, 2011 |
| Focus: |
ICT for MDGs
|
| Country: |
Australia |
| Created: |
May 02, 2011 |
|
MORE than $12 million will be spent developing a web-based tool that simulates the behaviour of floodwaters - technology that is expected to be critical in helping emergency services tackle floods.
To be known as Floodzoom, the program will predict the spread of floodwaters and their impact on local communities by analysing weather maps, satellite imagery, topography, stream flows and other factors.
The system - part of a $19.3 million flood program to be unveiled in tomorrow's state budget - will include up-to-date information on roads, water channels, drains and other landmarks affecting the movement and rise of floodwaters.
It will also be able to calculate flow rates for floodwaters - vital information for timing an evacuation - and allow access to individuals wanting to assess potential risk to homes and properties.
Water Minister Peter Walsh said Floodzoom would ''improve the effectiveness of community warnings and response and recovery''.
''It will give emergency services a more accurate prediction of flood behaviour and help individual landholders assess their own flood risk,'' he said.
Major studies of the future risk of flooding in up to 25 at-risk Victorian communities will be also be undertaken as part of the $19.3 million flood-response package - in addition to the studies already announced for Charlton, Creswick and Clunes.
Mr Walsh said new studies of flood risk were crucial to establish whether new housing, road construction or other obstructions had altered the historical behaviour of floodwaters. The studies would also examine what engineering solutions might be possible to reduce the risk, he said.
''The priority is about protecting houses,'' he said.
The research is expected to take 12-18 months. The government will work with catchment management authorities and local governments to prioritise study locations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Tag This |
Australia: 12m Flood Alert Program MORE than 12 million will be spent developing a web-based tool that simulates the behaviour of floodwaters - technology that is expected to be critical in helping emergency services tackle floods
 Tell A Friend |
|
 del.icio.us digg this Slashdot |
| Rate: |
0 ratings
|
Views: |
557 |
| Comments: |
0 |
Favorited: |
0 |
Bookmarked: |
0 |
Tagged: |
0 |
|
|
|
|