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Our science is published in a variety of formats. Click here for more information. We also attend events and conferences in the UK, within Europe, and at venues around the world.Atlantis project launched in London - 13 June 2008
Leading representatives from across the public sector are meeting today, 13 June 2008, to discuss how the Atlantis Initiative is helping Britain combat flood risk in the 21st century.
Directors, government advisers, local authority chief executives and environmental experts are among 150 professionals present at the meeting which is being held at the Institution of Civil Engineers in London.
Run jointly by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), Ordnance Survey, British Geological Survey, Environment Agency, Met Office and UK Hydrographic Office, Atlantis seeks to provide a consistent and joined-up approach to tackling flooding. This will be a huge benefit to many organisations that can spend some 25%-50% of their time sourcing relevant information and getting different datasets to work together.
Professor Alan Jenkins, Director of the CEH Water Science Programme, says: "CEH is the organisation responsible for determining probable flood flows on UK rivers. As a long-established provider of hydrological datasets, CEH looks forward to building on the new Atlantis river network and terrain model to develop the next generation of flood estimation procedures and products”.
The Atlantis project aims to provide agreed standards for the more effective use and integration of existing geographic and environmental data. By improving flood modelling and forecasting, Atlantis will enable a consistent and joined-up approach in all aspects of the flooding life cycle – from planning and response through to recovery.
Sir Michael Pitt, whose report on the summer 2007 floods is due shortly, has given the partners his full support. “The floods of June and July 2007 were a wake-up call to us all,” says Sir Michael. “Atlantis is an excellent example of public-sector organisations joining forces to share geographic and related information. This outstanding level of cooperation will help ensure that all stakeholders have access to the geographic information they need to plan for and respond to these types of emergencies.”
Being discussed at the meeting today are the new Environment Agency Detailed River Network and the availability of Ordnance Survey topography and height data which is critical for flood planning. Two million homes are already at risk from coastal or inland flooding and over £230 billion of assets are sited on flood plains in England and Wales.
James Brayshaw, Ordnance Survey Director, the Chair of the Atlantis Initiative and a civil engineer, says: “The Atlantis group’s objective is to provide the latest information that will significantly improve how the UK understands and manages flood risk. The collaboration is improving the accuracy of the information available to engineers and scientists for all aspects of flooding. It will enable the delivery of service improvements to end-users in both the private and public sector.”
Additional information
More information on the Atlantis Initiative and the partners can be found here. (external link)
Click here for more information on CEH's Flood Estimation Handbook.
In March 2008 CEH published a full appraisal of the 2007 UK Summer Floods. Click here for more information.
