Catchment management system phase 1: framework and demonstration
This project developed a prototype system for managing water catchments, linking together models of the mechanics and behaviour of water.
Documents
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email: defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Details
Approach
This project joined together models of the mechanics and behaviour of water (hydraulics and hydrology) by developing a prototype system for managing water catchments. This created an improved tool for assessing the risk of flooding in a particular catchment.
This helps with planning flood defence by providing a way of simulating the whole catchment to ensure that flood defence activities are:
- technically and environmentally sound
- economical
- sustainable
- not in conflict with other functions
Outcome
This phase of the study provided a framework for the prototype system together with demonstrations of how it could be applied. While flood defence applications are the focus in the demonstration system, the design allows a wide range of water management issues to be addressed. This includes environmental management (water quality and ecology).
The report outlines some of the design considerations in the development of this demonstration version of the catchment management system. A case study based on the storage ponds at Milton Keynes is developed for use with the demonstration system.
This project ran from 1996 to 2001 at a cost of £440,800.