Japan: New real-time flood projection system developed by joint Waseda and University of Tokyo team to be tested in Tokyo
By Kazuaki Nagata
A team led by Waseda University and University of Tokyo researchers has developed a flood projection computer system that they claim is able to provide more accurate real-time estimates than existing ones.
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Risks of heavy rain on an unprecedented scale have grown recently due to global climate change, the team said. The system, called S-uiPS (Sekine’s urban inundation Prediction System), predicts floods based on detailed urban infrastructure data, including how the sewage system and streets are structured and connected to rivers. Additionally, it uses rainfall monitoring and projection data from the transport ministry and the Meteorological Agency to predict floods in real time, the team said.
The new projection system, which shows constantly updated flood map on the screen, can help municipalities and people make critical decisions, the team said.
The map shows the result of a simulation with five different colors indicating the projected level of flooding.
“I can only think of two places where flooding might kill people: underground spaces and underpasses,” said Masato Sekine, professor at Waseda University and an expert in hydraulics and river engineering. Sekine developed the core components of the program.
When it rains heavily, underground spaces have a high risk of being inundated, and drivers can become stuck in flooded railroad or highway underpasses. Thus, judging when the appropriate time to seal underground spaces with watertight doors and to block such underpasses is important, Sekine said.
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