Kolkata Flood Forecasting and Early Warning System

Kolkata Flood Forecasting and Early Warning System

Urban flooding is a global phenomenon posing a big challenge for many of our countries due to deficiency of  sufficient drainage infrastructure. Problems connected with urban floods range from localized to major incidents, resulting in cities being inundated to a few hours to several days. The overflow-related impact can be widespread, including damage of civic properties, relocation of peoples, deterioration of water bodies, the spread of epidemics and so on. 

Taru Leading Edge, supported by ADB, leads the development of a comprehensive flood early warning system in Kolkata to address the urban flooding issues. IoT powered system provides real-time forecasts on rainfall and inundation levels, climate and environmental data thereby strengthening city resilience. 

The flood forecasting and early warning system is the first-ever comprehensive city level early warning system in India, designed to provide forecasts as well as real-time updates from sensor nodes. 

The system is singular in the sense they are accompanied by environment and weather sensors for year-round environmental monitoring, providing information on temperature, humidity and air quality across the city”. 

The ultrasonic sensors fixed at key points across the city such as hot-spots identified as vulnerable to inundation during flood events, canals, pumping stations, traffic junctions, and schools, will send real-time data to a cloud-based dashboard. The input will be automatically analyzed with global information system data of Kolkata city. Risk information will then be shared with citizens and community groups through mobile alerts and radio/television messaging, to help them plan their daily activities, such as commuting, based on early warning and real-time inundation status.

Taru has also developed webplatform and app to collect and analyse the data which is available at https://www.kflood.in

The information availed from the sensor nodes will help facilitate informed decision-making before and during and after an event of a disaster. This comprehensive city level disaster and environmental monitoring can be used to address larger urban climate variability related challenges and will reduce economic loss and impacts on livelihood, improving flood awareness and safety at the community level.

Resources and Articles 

https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/452576/toward-resilient-kolkata.pdf

https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/flood-forecasting-early-warning-system-inaugurated-in-city-118092700668_1.html