Enhanced Flood Risk Assessments with Flood Modeller
- Alastair Sheppard
- Mar 17
- 2 min read
Derwyn Lear
Director
EcoHydrology Limited, UK
"Typically planning is initially informed by low resolution online flood mapping, and Flood Modeller allows us to robustly assess the accuracy of this mapping and hence better inform the suitability of a specific development."
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about EcoHydrology Environmental and the services you provide?
EcoHydrology Limited are a newly founded Scottish-based environmental consultancy providing integrated services related to the protection, management and enhancement of the water environment. We work in the key service areas of flood risk management, sustainable drainage (SuDS) design, peatland restoration, environmental impact assessment and construction environmental management. Our solutions intend to address the challenges posed by new development, land use changes and climate change.
Q: What inspired you to select Flood Modeller as a key tool when establishing EcoHydrology?
Having prior experience with Flood Modeller, we confidently chose it for EcoHydrology to minimise upfront costs and manage smaller projects effectively. The 'Lite' subscription package provided an excellent and affordable entry point. Additionally, its exceptionally user-friendly interface, akin to the GIS platforms we frequently use, greatly facilitates quick learning and efficient processing."
Q: What specific challenges does Flood Modeller address, and what value does it provide to you and your clients?
Flood Modeller enables us to deliver more detailed Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs) in areas with a recorded risk of fluvial or surface water flooding, either within or adjacent to proposed development sites. Typically, planning is initially informed by low-resolution online flood mapping. Flood Modeller allows us to robustly assess the accuracy of this mapping, thereby better informing the suitability of specific developments. This is particularly valuable for surface water flooding, which is often misrepresented in online mapping due to the exclusion of drainage networks and barriers to surface water flow paths that are not detected by Digital Terrain Models (DTMs).
Q: Having used Flood Modeller for various projects, what features do you find make it stand out from other hydraulic modelling software?
Flood Modeller excels with its 2D modelling, hydrology flow estimation, and flood mapping visualisation tools, which provide in-depth analysis and present results in a clear and engaging manner. The software's ability to leverage free high-resolution LiDAR data is particularly impressive, enabling quick assessments of conservative flood risk extents. This greatly aids our clients' strategic decision-making on potential development sites, showcasing Flood Modeller's exceptional value and reliability.
Q: How has Flood Modeller contributed to the growth and development of your company?
Although we are in the early stages, Flood Modeller has significantly contributed. Its effective and efficient hydraulic modelling capabilities, combined with flexible monthly and lower-cost subscription options, empower small and medium-sized enterprises like ours to deliver projects that might otherwise be beyond our reach. Even though we are not fully oriented towards flood risk, Flood Modeller's robust features enable us to operate successfully in this domain, enhancing our service offerings and expanding our project portfolio.
