Sustainable Land Use - UNDERSTANDING IMPACTS
How can we respond quickly to climate-related emergencies?
Climate change has increased the frequency and severity of floods in the UK, putting people, property and the environment at risk. To help it respond rapidly and effectively to major flooding incidents, the Environment Agency uses a suite of ArcGIS solutions to collect, analyse and share information about floods, as they happen.
While global warming continues, the risk of extreme weather events and flooding, in particular, will continue to increase in the UK and indeed all of Europe. Devastating floods, on the scale of those that occurred in the north of England in the winter of 2019-2020 and Belgium and Western Germany in July 2021, are likely to become more frequent, requiring a faster response from government agencies and support organisations.
In the UK, the Environment Agency has accelerated its response to major flooding incidents by improving the collection and sharing of real-time data. Now over 2,500 field-based employees use ArcGIS mobile solutions to capture photos, videos, drone footage and flood outlines on their smartphones or tablets, as crises unfold. This invaluable information is then uploaded immediately to a live Incident Management (IM) Portal built on ArcGIS technology and hosted by Esri UK. Essential insight into flooding events is visible on Esri dashboards in seconds, allowing managers to make well-informed, real-time decisions and implement plans more quickly.
With access to this up-to-the-minute information, employees in the Environment Agency’s national incident control centre can make a rapid appraisal of the extent and criticality of major incidents. They can allocate the right teams of people and the right equipment to deal with situations appropriately and without delay. They can also alert other emergency responders and the general public to fast-changing situations, to help save lives. Following incidents, all of the information collected can be subsequently analysed and incorporated into flood models to help the Environment Agency plan for future events and further improve the effectiveness of its response.
“Floods are mostly unpredictable and can have a profound impact on our lives, homes and communities. Through the use of ArcGIS, the Environment Agency is better able to respond quickly, with the right support and equipment to protect people, businesses and the environment.”
Environment Agency
To read more inspiring stories of how different organisations and government are using GIS to challenge climate change and make a difference, click here.
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