Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	EP/I012222/1
Title:	Urban flood modelling using probabilistic radar rainfall ensembles (URFLOODPRE)
Principal Investigator:	Rico-Ramirez, Dr MA
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Civil Engineering
Organisation:	University of Bristol
Scheme:	First Grant - Revised 2009
Starts:	01 January 2011	Ends:	31 July 2012	Value (£):	101,302
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Coastal & Waterway Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Water
Related Grants:
Panel History:	Panel Date Panel Name Outcome 15 Sep 2010 Process, Environment and Sustainability Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
The quantitative measurement and forecasting of precipitation is crucial for predicting and mitigating the effects of flood-producing storms. In recent years the UK has experienced devastating flooding events such as Boscastle in 2004, Carlisle in 2005, Tewksbury in 2007, the Morpeth floods in 2008, and the Cumbria floods in 2009. The main goal in flood forecasting is to provide reliable information to the general public, local authorities, and emergency services under the threat of potential flooding. Although significant progress has been made in the measurement and forecasting of precipitation using weather radars and numerical weather prediction models, there is a need to improve the estimation and forecasting of precipitation during extreme rainfall events in particular, not only for flood prediction in large rural catchments but also for applications in urban hydrology. Real-time flood forecasting systems for flood prediction and warning in urban areas require measurements and forecasts of precipitation with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Weather radar systems are able to provide such measurements, but unfortunately radar rainfall estimations are affected by different sources of error. These errors have been difficult to quantify and traditionally ignored when producing radar-based precipitation forecasts for urban flood forecasting. Accurate, reliable and timely quantitative precipitation forecasting is an important and challenging task that it is now crucial for the reduction of hazard and the preservation of life and property in large urban areas in the probability of flooding. The aim of this research is to develop a probabilistic urban flood forecasting system that integrates information from radar and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models for the real-time prediction and management of severe storms affecting urban areas.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.bris.ac.uk