Croatian company uses big-data to better predict and manage flood risk

How can we higher anticipate and handle flood threat?

Mijo Jelec, the proprietor of the Nova Ladja Motel in Odzak, northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, displays the Sava because it flows by. He has pictures and vivid recollections of flooding in Might 2014. Then, he did not get any advance warning.

"In 2014, the water rose 2.6m above this step," he says. "And it was 4 or 5 centimetres away from reaching the second flooring. It got here so shortly we could not predict it or do something or assist ourselves. I simply took the boat, obtained in it and left."

To handle dangers and facilitate safety in case of floods just like the one which struck eight years in the past in southeastern Europe, inflicting ten of 1000's to flee their houses and greater than 60 fatalities, a Croatian firm has developed an built-in platform with real-time data: GDi Ensemble FloodSmart. 

Large knowledge evaluation

In Sarajevo, undertaking chief Davorin Singer explains how they use large knowledge evaluation to generate motion plans and 3D modelling that assist establishments, rescue groups and residents.

"It collects all the knowledge from hydrologists about flows, about flood areas and makes it out there to those that need to make selections," he explains. "To allow them to select what to do in several conditions to attenuate threat and injury from floods."

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Good Areas - GDI FloodSmart

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Good Areas - GDI FloodSmart

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Good Areas - GDI FloodSmart

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Good Areas - GDI FloodSmart

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Good Areas - GDI FloodSmart

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Good Areas - GDI FloodSmart

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Good Areas - GDI FloodSmart

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Funding by the European Union Cohesion Coverage

The GDi ensemble FloodSmart undertaking has a complete finances of €1,242,643 of which 49.8% €619,250 has been financed by the European Union Cohesion Coverage and the remainder, 50.2%, by the Croatian firm itself.

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By getting the proper knowledge on time, we have now a a lot sooner response. We've much less stress and we have now higher enforcement of flood defences.

Boris Zelic

Regional Flood Safety Supervisor for Codoprovreda Posavina

The platform is utilized by the Water Data System of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since 2014, the Odzak space has flooded once more, however to not the identical extent. The pumping station in Zorice has 5 machines able to evacuating 9 cubic metres of water per second to stop flooding of agricultural and residential areas. Engineer Boris Zelic, Regional Flood Safety Supervisor for Codoprovreda Posavina, says communication and forecasting fashions like GDi's are important if the tools is to be deployed successfully.

"In 2019, we re-enforced the embankment," he says. "Then we had a mannequin. We knew excessive water was coming. In 2014, we did not know that. By getting the proper knowledge on time, we have now a a lot sooner response. We've much less stress and we have now higher enforcement of flood defences."

The platform proposes options and motion plans to deal with the chance of floods earlier than, throughout and after they happen.