EA accelerates flood mapping initiative

27 May 2009, 6:22pm

The Environment Agency’s Geomatics Group is reinforcing the work currently being undertaken to identify and evaluate areas at risk from flooding across England and Wales, appointing Blom Aerofilms to assist its surface mapping services. It’s a single appointment under a four-year framework agreement with an expected value in excess of £1 million.

The Environment Agency’s Geomatics Group will employ Blom LiDAR scanning, high resolution aerial laser technology, to gather 3D topographical data, showing detailed terrain and surface information, including building heights. Used to identify drainage patterns and water flow, it’s a key tool that will help predict which areas and structures are most at risk from flooding in different weather conditions. When combined with other information and assessment, it helps to identify where and how the Environment Agency, and other organisations, can best employ remedial action, including temporary and demountable flood defences. The data provided by the aerial surveys will also be used to provide better information about the viability of developments proposed for flood plains, and what can be achieved to mitigate against future flooding.

“LiDAR is an extremely cost-efficient technology for gathering large areas of data. Much of the work is done in winter when there is maximum visibility through the tree line. Working with Blom, we can maximise our capability in this key window of opportunity,” explains Bob Davison, Operations Manager at the Environment Agency’s Geomatics Group.

Blom’s laser technology, mounted on both fixed and rotary wing aircraft, will collect more than 100,000 individual laser points with accurate positioning and height information every second to produce highly detailed 3D images. TopEye, one of a range of Blom’s advanced mapping lasers, will be used to gather the flood risk data. Blom’s TopEye technology is highly efficient due to its capability of capturing both image and terrain data simultaneously in one pass. Other specialist airborne sensor technology available through Blom under the agreement includes a microwave radiometer capable of identifying areas of high moisture content, a hyper spectral sensor and a water-penetrating bathymetric LiDAR for coastal areas.

The work is further to Sir Michael Pitt's comprehensive final review into the 2007 summer floods, which was confirmed by the Environment Agency as a significant contribution to managing the future flood risk in England and Wales. It was confirmed that the Environment Agency had highlighted the need for further clarity on the responsibilities for flooding from surface water drains, infrastructure protection and more publicly available information on flood risk. It was also further established that additional resources were also needed to help adapt to climate change. These were all agreed as key issues to be swiftly taken forward. Blom’s appointment to this framework contract is evidence of these additional resources now being put in place.

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