Geosensing-based platform for supporting operational river flood forecast

Abstract

Up-to-date information is fundamental for monitoring and managing large-scale river floods efficiently. Geosensors (or environmental sensors) ranging from water gauges to weather stations are nowadays used to gather such information. This data must be available in near real-time to feed hydrological and hydraulic models used to predict river flows and water levels. These predictions provide guidance when to take an action such as the issuing of a warning. Real-time decision support systems, frequently designated as flood forecasting and warning systems, are used to organize the complex process of coupling data and models in real-time. In this work is presented the first construction steps of such a system at a local level, focusing on the data sensor collection and management. The prototype platform is applied to the Mondego River nearby Coimbra City, Portugal.