Two reports have been released from AI-EES and Alberta WaterSMART, one with conclusions from the February Workshop and another which compares the Alberta Flood Forecast system to other jurisdictions from across Canada and the globe. These reports focus on flood forecasting rather than flood mitigation, and are a follow up to a workshop we live tweeted back in February. As always, if you have feedback we will send it on to the authors. 

Having attended the workshop, the following would be the top three most interesting things (to the author) mentioned at the workshop.

1. Data Collection – Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRahs)

One problem that plagues flood forecasting is a lack of data, however that may change with enough citizen involvement. CoCoRahs is a volunteer program where individuals measure the rain at their home every day and submit information to a database thereby expanding the available data. This database can then be used by Flood Forecasters, Researchers, Modellers, or whoever is just curious to view the data or calibrate models. CoCoRaHs is a popular tool used in the U.S. that allows citizens to provide rainfall data to flood forecasting specialists. Specifically, Colorado used CoCoRaHs as an additional tool for acquiring precipitation data to determine water quantities during their 2013 flood. If you’re interested in contributing, visit the CoCoRahs website for more information. Data collected from southern basins Alberta will be used put to good use. The data submitted from southern Alberta basins eventually feed into the Manitoba River Forecast Centre which uses CoCoRahs in their forecasting systems.

2. Communication Systems – Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) FloodLine

For those living in flood hazard areas in Scotland and the UK, there is a voluntary flood warning system called FloodLine. In this system, an individual may register to receive a call or text to their phone if a flood warning, alert, or severe warning is issued for their area. It’s an automated system so individuals may also phone in for further information. This communication model is advantageous in that it can be used by people without smartphones and provides location specific information to each user. FloodLine is an extremely popular communication tool used by SEPA to get warnings and information out to the public. Furthermore, the public actively uses FloodLine to gain relevant information for their area. Going forward, it will be interesting to compare the FloodLine system with the forthcoming Alberta River Forecast Centre app.

3. Expressing Risk – Probabilistic Forecasting vs Deterministic Forecasting 

In Alberta, the River Forecast Centre releases Deterministic Forecasts. This means that the forecast specifically gives you one answer (e.g. High Stream Flow Advisory in effect) instead of a range of possibilities. Probabilistic forecasting would provide a range for the expected flows. Given that Albertans are used to a range of possibility in our forecast, (e.g. High of 15C, low of 3C) it’s possible that a more variable forecast could be used in flood forecasting.

Types Of Forecasting

 

A summary of the first day of the workshop may be viewed in our blog. Below is a summary of the second day.

Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Ross Douglas

Ross Douglas

Board Member

Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.

Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.

Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Brian Mergelas

Brian Mergelas, PhD, ICD.D

Board Member

Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market.   With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry. 

Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector. 

He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency. 

Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field. 

Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation.   As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.