Severe flood events in Europe have the potential to cause large scale loss of life and economic devastation.
In a seven year period up to 2005, floods claimed the lives of more than 700 people across Europe and caused around £25 billion of damage.
Halcrow was commissioned by the Water Directorate of Siret to draw up a plan for ‘the prevention, protection and mitigation of flooding events’ in the basin of the Siret River in Eastern Romania. The Siret is one of the Danube’s most important tributaries in Romania and its basin covers an area of 42,890km².
We used one and two dimensional hydro-dynamic modelling to provide the client with critical data that could be used to assess flood risk and identify the most effective mitigation measures. We produced flood hazard maps using cartographic equipment and provided an estimate of future trends in hazard levels for different areas of the basin.
During the five year programme we drew on our expertise in hydrology to produce the following outcomes:
- an integrated database and information system
- a hydrological rainfall and runoff model for the basin
- flood simulation designs for a range of 10 per cent to 0.1 per cent annual probability
- transfer of know-how including training in project activities for the client