DEFRA

1st IMPACT Workshop - 16/17 May 2002

How does this research fit within the UK?

Dr Mervyn Bramley

Flood Defence Development Manager,

Environment Agency

(and R&D Theme Leader - Engineering, DEFRA / Environment Agency Joint R&D Programme in Flood and Coastal Defence)

DEFRA

Summary

• Organisation structure - DEFRA and authorities• Some basic facts about England & Wales• Joint DEFRA / Environment Agency Flood and

Coastal Defence R&D Programme• Policy planning; strategy planning; schemes• A look at embankments and their management

DEFRA

We have some big defences…..

DEFRA

….and lots of conventional ones

DEFRA

Here are some basic facts

• About 1 in 10 people in England and Wales are at risk of flooding

• Risks of sea defence failure are expected to increase fivefold (from 1% to 5%) by 2075

• The Environment Agency maintains 35 000km of coastal and flood defence embankment

• Current total expenditure on Flood Management is about £400m/annum

• Targeted expenditure on R&D is £4.2m/annum

DEFRA

Flood management – National organisation structure

• DEFRA – sets central government policy High-level Targets Funds Capital and Maintenance work

• Operating Authorities – do the work locally Environment Agency - principal organisation Internal Drainage Boards Local Authorities

DEFRA

Policy Statements

• DEFRA - To reduce the risk to people and the developed and natural environment from flooding and coastal erosion by encouraging the provision of technically, environmentally and economically sound and sustainable defence measures

• Environment Agency - Flood warnings and sustainable defences will continue to prevent deaths from flooding. Property damage and distress will be minimised. The role of wetlands in reducing flood risks will be recognised and all the environmental benefits from natural floods will be maximised.

DEFRA

Five activity areas of flood management

• Strategic planning of flood management policies, plus catchment or shoreline strategies

• Flood warning and forecasting (the highest priority)

• Improvements, including the replacement and upgrading of flood defences

• Regulation of developers and other third parties, and

• Operations, including essential activity to monitor and maintain the flood defence infrastructure, and to respond to emergencies.

DEFRA

Features of DEFRA / EA Flood & Coastal Defence R&D Programme

• Joint programme for all authorities• High level aim - Reduce flood / coastal risk• Thematic approach (e.g. risk, planning, engineering)

• Involves users and builds on science base• Importance of pilot and demonstration projects • Focuses on uptake and outcomes of research

DEFRA

Structure of Joint R&D Programme

DEFRA

Joint R&D Programme Structure

Six themes :• Fluvial, Estuarine and Coastal Processes• Policy Development includes realignment

• Broad Scale Modelling for effective planning

• Flood Forecasting and Warning• Risk Evaluation and Understanding Uncertainty• Engineering includes new works and O&M

DEFRA

Policy plans, strategy plans, schemes

Key points: “Tiered” risk management approach - sufficient detail to inform next stage Uses a range of databases and models Focuses on critical issues, reducing risk, and managing residual risk

DEFRA

R&D uptake and user focus

• Implementation - delivering outputs for outcomes Specific users; specific “fit for purpose” tools Must improve business efficiency

• Dissemination - making outputs available

• Three key objectives for Improved Uptake Support continuous learning, alongside R&D Develop web-based approaches Link to specific schemes thru pilot and demonstration

DEFRA

Effective performance of flood embankments is central to the defence system

DEFRA

Flood embankment construction for improving flood defence standard

DEFRA

Flood embankment management for environmental and defence function

DEFRA

Emergency response to failure….

DEFRA

Effective inspection and monitoring

• The EA is examining new tools (e.g. the potential use of helicopter-based radar measurements) for linear survey of embankment infrastructure

DEFRA

Key Issues for Embankment R&D

• Effective monitoring and inspection strategies Speed and cost of linear survey Tiered approach to skilled staff / focused inspection Use of data / relational databases

• Describing asset condition• Describing future condition and loading• Linking observed “state” to performance

e.g. Fragility curve approach Predicting consequences - resilience to overtopping; breach

formation

• Replacement or renovation