Flood risk management

Flood Risk Management Research Consortium

Heriot-Watt University is playing a leading role in the Flood Risk Management Research Consortium, an interdisciplinary group from 16 universities, supported by organisations including the Met Office and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

Researchers led by Professor Garry Pender, who holds the chair of environmental engineering in the School of the Built Environment, are managing the programme, the biggest of its kind in Europe. His group is also identifying which areas and properties are at risk from what type of flood: rainfall, ground water or coastal.

The aim of the project is to promote the skills necessary for flood risk management, and to produce the next generation of flood risk management professionals and policy makers.

Pan-european work

A team from Heriot-Watt University are also the UK lead partner in a pan-European €8.2million project involving more than 20 partners in five countries, which aims to investigate “adaptive” flood risk management. This approach recognises that the risk of flooding cannot be avoided but that management of the risk can be improved.