Browsing by Author "Butler, David"

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    Data supporting 'Understanding the effects of Digital Elevation Model resolution in urban fluvial flood modelling'
    (Cranfield University, 2023-02-10 17:21) Muthusamy, Manoranjan; Rivas Casado, Monica; Leinster, Paul; Butler, David
    This HERAS 2D model setup files and results were produced to study the effect of DEM resolution in fluvial flood modelling using Cockermouth storm Desmend flood (2015). -Link to the publication will be added once available- Note: This folder contains DEM data downloaded from Environment Agency, UK. This metadata record is for Approval for Access product AfA458. Attribution statement: (c) Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2019. All rights reserved
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    Guidelines for the use of unmanned aerial systems in flood emergency response
    (MDPI, 2020-02-13) Salmoral, Gloria; Rivas Casado, Monica; Muthusamy, Manoranjan; Butler, David; Menon, Prathyush P.; Leinster, Paul
    There is increasing interest in using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in flood risk management activities including in response to flood events. However, there is little evidence that they are used in a structured and strategic manner to best effect. An effective response to flooding is essential if lives are to be saved and suffering alleviated. This study evaluates how UAS can be used in the preparation for and response to flood emergencies and develops guidelines for their deployment before, during and after a flood event. A comprehensive literature review and interviews, with people with practical experience of flood risk management, compared the current organizational and operational structures for flood emergency response in both England and India, and developed a deployment analysis matrix of existing UAS applications. An online survey was carried out in England to assess how the technology could be further developed to meet flood emergency response needs. The deployment analysis matrix has the potential to be translated into an Indian context and other countries. Those organizations responsible for overseeing flood risk management activities including the response to flooding events will have to keep abreast of the rapid technological advances in UAS if they are to be used to best effect.
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    Towards resource-efficient and service-oriented integrated infrastructure operation
    (Elsevier, 2014-12-09) Roelich, Katy; Knoeri, Christof; Steinberger, Julia K.; Varga, Liz; Blythe, Phil T.; Butler, David; Gupta, Rajat; Harrison, Gareth P.; Martin, Chris; Purnell, Phil
    Infrastructure is a means to an end: it is built, maintained and expanded in order to enable the functioning of society. Present infrastructure operation is characterised by: governance based on unmanaged growing demand, which is both inefficient and ultimately unsustainable; lack of integration of the end-users, in terms of the variety of their wants, needs and behaviours; separate and parallel delivery of different infrastructure streams prohibiting joint solutions. To achieve long-term sustainability, infrastructure needs to be designed and operated to provide essential service delivery at radically decreased levels of resource use. This new approach will need to: (1) incorporate the end-user, in terms of their wants and behaviours; (2) focus on the service provided; (3) use Information and Communication Technologies more effectively; (4) integrate the operation of different infrastructure systems; (5) be governed in a manner that recognises the complexity and interconnectedness of infrastructure systems; and (6) rethink current infrastructure valuation. Possible configurations incorporating these aspects with the explicit goal of contributing to long-term sustainability could be Multi-Utility Service Companies or “MUSCos”. This article presents new insights and ideas generated by considering the challenge of the transition towards a MUSCo infrastructure.
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    Towards the coordinated and fit-for-purpose deployment of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) for flood risk management in England
    (IWA Publishing, 2022-07-18) Giannitsopoulos, Michail L.; Leinster, Paul; Butler, David; Smith, Mike; Rivas Casado, Monica
    Preparedness for flood emergency response is crucial for effective flood management. The need for advanced flood decision support tools that aid flood management has been recognized by several authors. This work examines the variability that currently exists across England with regard to the Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) data collection and processing strategy in flood emergency events. Expert elicitation was carried out using a tailored questionnaire about UAS deployment in three flood emergency scenarios. The survey highlighted that reduced equipment assembly time, a national network of appropriately qualified UAS pilots and the effective UAS deployment when on-site, can reduce the response time to flood emergency. For improved comparability and reduced bias in data collection and interpretation, clear guidelines on which data products are most beneficial for particular purposes, processing time required, platform and sensor selection may also be necessary. We consider that releasing a comprehensive documentation pack, which includes guidelines, standards and protocols that detail the methods, tools, technology, quantity and quality of data, to UAS pilots on a flood emergency call, will enhance the timely response.
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    Understanding the effects of Digital Elevation Model resolution in urban fluvial flood modelling
    (Elsevier, 2021-02-20) Muthusamy, Manoranjan; Rivas Casado, Monica; Butler, David; Leinster, Paul
    With the extensive use of 2D flood models, the resolution and quality of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) have come under greater focus especially in urban hydrology. One of the major research areas, in this regard, is the effect of DEM resolution on flood modelling. This study first investigates the root causes of the impact of DEM resolution on urban fluvial flood modelling outputs using DEMs with grid resolutions ranging from 1m to 50m. The study then investigates how DEM resolution affects the definition and characterisation of the river channel and the consequences of this for the modelled results. For this purpose, a separate set of merged DEMs was generated where the river channel as defined by the 1m resolution DEM is merged with coarser resolution DEMs. Data obtained during the flood event caused by Storm Desmond (2015) in Cockermouth (Cumbria, UK) was used for this study. The HEC-RAS 2D model was used for all of the simulations. The benchmark model obtained with the 1m resolution DEM was calibrated using measured water levels at two locations within the rivers. Results show that there is a 30% increase in flood extent from 58.9 ha to 79.0 ha and a 150% increase in mean flood depth from 1.74m to 4.30m when the resolution reduces from a 1m grid to a 50m grid. The main reason for this is the increasing lack of definition of the river channel with an associated reduction in the estimated depth of the river resulting in reduced river channel conveyance. This then leads to an increase in the flood extent and depth especially in the immediate vicinity of the river. This effect is amplified when the DEM grid size is greater than the river width. When the 1m resolution DEM for the river channel is used in conjunction with coarser resolution DEMs for the surrounding areas (merged DEMs), there is a significant improvement in the agreement between the modelled and the reference case (obtained from the benchmark model) flood extents and depths. The use of merged DEMs reduces the error in mean flood depth from 90% to 4% and reduces the overall RMSE in flood depths from 2.6m to 0.9m at 30m resolution. The 30m resolution DEM was tested because this is. The use of merged DEMs, where a higher resolution DEM is used to characterise the river channel in conjunction with a 30m resolution DEM (e.g., NASA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission DEMs) for the wider area could be a cost-effective solution for locations where higher resolution DEMs may not be available.