The document describes the development of an early warning system called the Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) for the eThekwini Municipality area in South Africa. It discusses collecting current data through 42 rain gauge stations and field instrumentation. It also involves developing hydraulic models of rivers like the Palmiet River and merging these models. The FEWS will process data from various sources through its data management system and issue flood forecasts and warnings. It aims to help reduce disaster risks through timely dissemination of warnings to communities. The long-term goal is to fully integrate forecast data from radar and global models to establish an operational early warning system called ProFEWS.

1. eThekwini Municipality- Early Warning System
Randeer Kasserchun, Godfrey Vella, Geoff Tooley, Gerrard Smith,
Clinton Chrystal, Kordian Ignatiuk, Angus Gowar.

3. eThekwini Municipal Area = 2297 km2
By 2030, eThekwini will be Africa’s most caring and livable city

4. eThekwini Municipal Area = 2297 km2
Population : 3.7 million
By 2030, eThekwini will be Africa’s most caring and livable city

5. eThekwini Municipal Area = 2297 km2
Population : 3.7 million
1 million live in City of Durban
By 2030, eThekwini will be Africa’s most caring and livable city

6. eThekwini Municipal Area = 2297 km2
Population : 3.7 million
Length of Streams and Rivers : 4000 km
and 3700 km of Stormwater pipes
By 2030, eThekwini will be Africa’s most caring and livable city

7. eThekwini Municipal Area = 2297 km2
Population : 3.7 million
Length of Streams and Rivers : 4000 km
and 3700 km of Stormwater pipes
18 River Catchments and 17 Estuaries

8. eThekwini Municipal Area = 2297 km2
Population : 3.7 million
Length of Streams and Rivers : 4000 km
and 3700 km of Stormwater pipes
18 River Catchments and 17 Estuaries
200 km of culverts and 50 km of canals
By 2030, eThekwini will be Africa’s most caring and livable city

9. eThekwini Municipal Area = 2297 km2
Population : 3.7 million
Length of Streams and Rivers : 4000 km
18 River Catchments and 17 Estuaries
200 km of culverts and 50 km of canals
98 km of Coastline.
By 2030, eThekwini will be Africa’s most caring and livable city

10. Introduction to FEWS
Flood Early Warning System - FEWS
Generic information platform for data processing for flood and environmental
forecasting systems
.Links to all kinds of meteorological and observed data sources, such as
.ground station monitoring devices,
.weather radar,
.numerical weather models and
.satellite images
.Facilities to process such data in required formats
.Links to a wide range of hydrological and hydraulic modelling systems
.Easy to connect models and data sources, irrespective of their producers in
order to avoid capital destruction of earlier investments by clients
.Resilient system

11. Typical Raingauge Station Installations
• Currently running 42 Stations.

12. Typical Raingauge Station Installations
• Currently running 42 Stations.

13. Typical Raingauge Station Installations
• Currently running 42 Stations.

14. Typical Weather Stations.
• Currently running 4 stations with a further 2
stations planned within next few months.

15. Typical Stream / River gauge Stations
• Existing 3 sites with a
• further 7 planned.

16. Typical Stormwater Level / Flow gauge Station –
Stormwater Culverts and Pipes.

17. Understanding Coastal Dynamics
1.) Water samples collected for analysis as well as portable RBR
2.) Deploy (5) Acoustic Current Doppler Profilers (ACDP’s)

18. Understanding Coastal Dynamics
Water samples collected for analysis as well as portable RBR

19. Understanding Coastal Dynamics

20. Understanding Coastal Dynamics
Tidal Gauge

21. Understanding Coastal Dynamics
Tidal Gauge
RBR
Wave Ryder Buoy
Portable RBR & TCM’s

22. Understanding Coastal Dynamics
Tidal Gauge
RBR
Wave Ryder Buoy
Portable RBR & TCM’s
Radar

23. Understanding
Coastal
Dynamics

24. Delft-FEWS (concept)
24
Delft-FEWS
• import
• validation
• transformation / interpolation
• data hierarchy
• general adapter
• export / report
• administration (data, forecasts)
• viewing (data, forecasts)
• archiving
• …
data (feeds)
models
export &
dessimination
import
Flood Early Warning System - FEWS

25. Process for eThekwini
Flood Early Warning System - FEWS
Phase 1: Collation of Current Data & Pilot Study
• Rainfall data, GIS, field instrumentation
• Palmiet River hydraulic model
Phase 2: Real Time Running
• Merging of hydraulic models
• Running real time will field data inputs
• Calibration and Validation of models
Phase 3: Real Time Testing of FEWS
• Identify hot spots
• Identify warning mechanism
• Run scenario testing (hind cast events)
Phase 4: Forecast Testing - ProFEWS
• Run FEWS system with forecast data
• Radar rainfall, Global Forecasting System

26. Process for eThekwini
Flood Early Warning System - FEWS
Phase 1: Collation of Current Data & Pilot Study
• Rainfall data, GIS, field instrumentation
• Palmiet River hydraulic model
Phase 2: Real Time Running
• Merging of hydraulic models
• Running real time with field data inputs
• Calibration and Validation of models
Phase 3: Real Time Testing of FEWS
• Identify hot spots
• Identify warning mechanism
• Run scenario testing (hind cast events)
Phase 4: Forecast Testing - ProFEWS
• Run FEWS system with forecast data
• Radar rainfall, Global Forecasting System

27. FEWS (overview)
Flood Early Warning System - FEWS

28. FEWS (data management)
Flood Early Warning System - FEWS

29. FEWS
Flood Early Warning System - FEWS

30. Import Global Forecast System
(GFS) Data

31. FEWS – GFS Data (Wind & Pressure)
Flood Early Warning System - FEWS

32. FEWS - GFS Data (Surface Precipitation)
Flood Early Warning System - FEWS

33. The Palmiet River Pilot Project
2011
2015

34. HYDRAULIC MODELS

35. DEVELOPMENT OF A FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - GETTING AHEAD OF DISASTERS
HYDRAULIC MODELS

36. FEWS (development phase)
Flood Early Warning System - FEWS

37. FEWS (development phase)

38. TYPICAL SCENARIO FOR MOST ENGINEERS
AND DECISION MAKERS
DEVELOPMENT OF A FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - GETTING AHEAD OF DISASTERS

39. DEVELOPMENT OF A FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - GETTING AHEAD OF DISASTERS
TYPICAL SCENARIO FOR MOST ENGINEERS
AND DECISION MAKERS
Informal settlements 100 Year floodline

40. DEVELOPMENT OF A FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - GETTING AHEAD OF DISASTERS
TYPICAL SCENARIO FOR MOST ENGINEERS
AND DECISION MAKERS

41. Primary Objectives in FEWS development
41DEVELOPMENT OF A FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - GETTING AHEAD OF DISASTERS

42. HOW TO FORECAST WITH ANALYSIS
DEVELOPMENT OF A FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - GETTING AHEAD OF DISASTERS

43. SOMEONE HAS TO BE ALERTED,
AND THEN DESCISIONS MADE
ANALYSIS OF FORECAST DATA
DEVELOPMENT OF A FLOOD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - GETTING AHEAD OF DISASTERS

45. Existing Development in wrong places : e.g. Coastal below SBL

48. FEWS
Wave and
Flow
models
Water
Quality
models
Real Time
Data Feeds
Hydraulic
models

49. Forecasting Evaluation Warning System - FEWS
Thank you, any questions?

50. Forecasting Evaluation Warning System - FEWS
Thank you, any questions?

51. http://www.durban.gov.za/city_services/development_planning_management/
environmental_planning_climate_protection/Pages/default.aspx