Flood warning services
A flood warning system (FWS) includes hardware, software, people, policies, and procedures necessary to identify a threat and act before a flood occurs. By acting wisely, lives and property can be protected. We provide services to plan, design, construct, and maintain flood warning systems. In particular, we can: Design the data collection and telemetry system required, acquire the required equipment, and ensure proper installation and configuration. Identify requirements for data management and display, and acquire or develop a data management system that meets these requirements. Identify vulnerable people and property and assess the risk of flooding. Identify requirements for flood threat evaluation, including automated threat recognition and site-specific forecasting. Design and provide information technology tools that meet these needs. Identify needs for and options for notification of emergency responders, and implement measures that meet the needs. Assemble a complete flood response plan, including (a) evacuation and mass care plan; (b) temporary protection plan; (c) vital services maintenance plan; (d) public information plan; and (e) post-flood recovery plan. To develop the response plan, we will work with emergency managers, police and fire officials, public works staff, and local community leaders to identify capabilities and needs. Then we will formulate and document a plan that maximizes the time available for action. Evaluate the benefits and costs of a proposed or existing flood warning system for planning and funding purposes. We have the expertise required to provide these services, and we have experience gained through projects worldwide. In particular, our expertise and experience in hydrologic engineering provides us with the knowledge to develop a flood warning system that is more that just a flood data collection system. We can deliver a system that truly will increase mitigation time, permitting protection of property and reduction of risk to lives.
Flood warning portfolio
Flood response planning is best accomplished by specialists in flood warning--scientists and engineers who know what is required for timely and effective response. Our staff has this experience, gained through projects that we have completed throughout the US. Recently completed flood warning projects include: Warning system: Sacramento County Flood warning system design: Reno Flood response: Sacramento-San Joaquin Flood response: Mecklenburg County, NC Flood preparedness plan: Reno Warning system feasibility: Mission Hills Flood warning system design: Atlanta Forecasting system: Choctawhatchee-Pea Warning decision support system: Fort Collins, CO Inundation mapping: Fort Collins Hazard info system: Birmingham, AL Reservoir operation DSS: LNRA Reservoir operation DSS: LCRA
Flood warning tools
Flood warning provides a special opportunity to use the latest technology--including models, databases, geographic information systems (GIS), Web technologies, and automation--to save lives and protect property. We bring broad expertise and experience with all aspects of technology to the job. For example, our staff engineers will use hydrologic engineering models and GIS tools to identify vulnerable people and property, both for planning and for responding in real time. We will use databases with decision support tools that we develop to scan real time data for threatening situations and to notify responders. And we will develop and deploy Internet and intranet sites to disseminate information to emergency responders.   In addition to using off-the-shelf tools, we have developed and fielded specialized analysis tools to meet the specialized needs of flood warning, including our Aviso decision support system. This is a suite of computerized tools that work in an integrated manner to provide timely information for threat detection, notification, and response planning.