UK flooding risks & defences simulated by new system
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FloodRanger is a flood simulator that puts the player in control of a fictional area of the UK coast over a 100 year period. The aim is to defend cities, towns and the countryside in a virtual terrain whilst maintaining levels of housing and jobs for an expanding population. Flooding and coastal erosion are a key future challenges for the UK. The Foresight flood and coastal defence project was set up to help identify how future science and technologies might help define and meet these challenges.
FloodRanger has been developed from the DTI's Foresight project on flood and coastal defences. It will be a useful tool for organisations such as local authorities, the Environment Agency, other Government departments and universities to help educate and inform people involved with flood planning and management.
The initial software is generic but future versions can be tailored to particular environments with the developers.
Sir David said:
"Flooding can have a devastating effect on people's homes and businesses. There are around £200 billion worth of assets and 1.7 million households in flood risk areas in England and Wales. Current measures reduce the risk considerably, but as there are clear indications that flood risk will increase, long-term planning is vital.
"FloodRanger is intended to raise awareness of flood and coastal defence issues in a way that is both fun and thought-provoking. It is an innovative new tool to be used as a learning process for anyone involved with flood management."
Players must take tough decisions and face the consequences. They must decide where to build and what to defend, they must create jobs and houses, and face the uncertainties of climate change.
The Environment Agency's Regional Climate Change Project Manager Tim Reeder said:
"FloodRanger brings home to a wider audience the implications of making long- term decisions on flood risk management given the uncertainties that climate change will bring. We will be considering how we can use the approach that FloodRanger demonstrates in our future work."
Chris Walker from East Sussex County Council said:
"Not only could FloodRanger help those engaged on infrastructure planning and environmental management to understand the complex implications of future climate change on river catchments and coastal management, but could also provide a useful learning facility in education."
The Foresight flood and coastal defence team has worked with Discovery Software Ltd and View the World Ltd to develop this version of the FloodRanger software.
FloodRanger is one of the outcomes of the Foresight flood and coastal defence project, which is producing a long-term (30-100 year) vision for the future of UK flood and coastal defence which is robust and can be used as a basis to inform policy, and its delivery. This vision will be challenging and independent.
The project reported its first findings in June 2003 and expects to make its final report in April 2004. Further information about this and other Foresight projects at www.foresight.gov.uk
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