Flood embankment management manual - scoping study
A scoping study assessing the potential for a handbook on international expertise in the design, maintenance and management of flood defence embankments (levees).
Documents
External link: The international levee handbook - technical report
Details
Background
The design, construction, assessment and maintenance of levees (flood defence embankments) is a critical part of flood risk management work.
The Defra / Environment Agency R&D project ‘Reducing the Risk of Embankment Failure Under Extreme Conditions’ (FD2411) made a number of recommendations about future flood embankment work. One recommendation was the development of a flood embankment management handbook. This would provide a definitive manual for the whole life design, maintenance and management of flood embankments, including guidance on site investigation.
In 2009, partners from the UK, the United States, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany began working together to scope out how to make this vision a reality. This scoping study was carried out to agree the content for this single, comprehensive handbook collating international practices and knowledge.
Outcome
Although there’s considerable experience worldwide, guidance on the assessment, design, construction and maintenance of levees varies based on different engineering disciplines. It was decided that this handbook should offer a decision support framework for engineers rather than a prescriptive code of practice.
This scoping report demonstrated that an international levee handbook would be achievable. The international partners agreed to work together to address the recommendations from the scoping study. They produced the International Levee Handbook in 2013.