This project aims to reduce urban flood risk through an innovative solution called CENTAUR that integrates local sensor networks with data-driven control and a bespoke flow control device. The project brings together universities, SMEs, and water companies to test CENTAUR through full-scale pilot studies in Coimbra, Portugal, accelerating its commercialization. Initial proof of concept testing found CENTAUR can address current local flooding and potentially future flood risk, capturing 100% of flood volumes in simulated events. The project aims to develop the necessary monitoring and control hardware in the first year, with demonstration and implementation in Coimbra in the second and third years.

1. Session 3b: Water
Successful Horizon 2020 Project:
CENTAUR
Will Shepherd

2. Overview
• Context in relation to the call
• Project details
• Project Team
• Innovation
This project has received funding from the European
Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation
programme under grant agreement No 641931

3. H2020 Call
• WORK PROGRAMME 2014 – 2015
• 12. Climate action, environment, resource
efficiency and raw materials
• WATER-1-2014/2015: Bridging the gap: from
innovative water solutions to market
replication

4. Call details
• Aims to ‘… accelerate the commercialisation of
eco-innovative water solutions …’
• Linked to EIP (European Innovation Partnerships)
on Water priority areas.
– Priority area for the project: ‘Flood and drought risk
management’
• ‘…exploiting untapped potential of ICT by
developing and deploying advanced ICT solutions
for water resources management in agriculture
and urban areas.’
• Innovation action.

5. CENTAUR
• Aims to reduce urban flood risk – ‘Climate and
Environment’
• Uses innovative solutions applying ‘untapped
ICT potential’; optimises use of existing
infrastructure – ‘resource efficiency’
• Team includes 3 Universities / Research
Institutes, 2 SMEs and 2 Water Companies
• Full scale pilot studies accelerate
commercialisation
• Builds on existing technologies

6. Project Concept
• CENTAUR (Cost Effective Neural Technique for
Alleviation of Urban Flood Risk)
– To integrate, local sensor networks with a data driven
control approach and a bespoke flow control device to
adjust spatial distribution and so mitigate local flood
risk
• Existing RTC schemes
– System wide approach (flood risk, but often to control
water quality impacts)
– Predictive modelling approaches – calibrated network
hydrodynamic model (forecasting, control and
monitoring)

7. Concept of CENTAUR
• Adjust the balance of flood risk upstream and
downstream of known flood locations
• Data driven – local sensor network (training and
control) – reconfiguration possible
• Installation in existing infrastructure

8. Initial proof of concept
• Not optimised
• Can address current local flooding, also
potential to deal with future flood risk
Rainfall event
return period
(years)
Existing Flood
Volume
(m3)
Residual Flooding (m3) –
after installation of active
control
Captured flood
volume with
simulated CENTAUR
device [%]
0.5 17.5 0.0 100
1 45.2 0.0 100
2 95.1 0.0 100
5 213.4 0.0 100
10 356.4 48.1 87
20 559.2 264.7 53
30 710.9 424.8 40

9. Detailed concept

10. Laboratory testing
• 40 m long test facility
• 200 mm diameter pipes
• 4 x 1 m diameter, 1.5 m high
manholes
• Flows up to 50 l/s
• Installed flow control device
• Downstream valve to
alter flood risk
MH1
MH2
MH3
MH4 Level Monitors
and transmitters
Repeaters and
Controller

11. Pilot testing
Coimbra, Portugal
Local Partners

12. Flooding in Coimbra
• 9 June 2006:
• Return period = 50 years
• 25 October 2006
• Return period = 20 – 50 years
• 21 September 2008
• Return period = 5 years
• 24 December 2013
• Return period = 5 years

13. Available capacity
• Lighter colours = pipes with spare capacity

14. Project team

15. Timeline
Year 1
WP1 – Develop
monitoring and control
hardware
WP2 – Develop
Control software and
model of pilot
catchment
Year 2
Year 3
WP3 – Demonstration and
Implementation
WP4-Exploitation,Communicationand
Dissemination
WP5–ProjectManagement

16. Innovation and Commercial
Exploitation
• SMEs EMS and Steinhardt aim to market the
final device
• Other partners benefit by publishing results
and from exploitation agreement.

17. Summary
• Developed project clearly met the
requirements of the call
• Ambitious but realistic programme
• Team has a history of collaboration
• Clear role for each project partner