Author(s): Peter Melville-Shreeve; Chris Sweetapple
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Flood management; Level gauge; Rain gauge; Sensors; Telemetry
Abstract: Hyper-local, dense sensor networks can transform monitoring and understanding of small catchments, providing real-time hydrological insights without reliance on traditional hydraulic models. This paper synthesises findings from two UK pilots – Blue Heart (Eastbourne and southern Wealden) and ResilienTogether (Letchworth Garden City) – which integrate water level and rainfall telemetry to benchmark flood control performance. Results demonstrate how live data can support decision making, revealing tidal influences and evidencing the impact of reservoir gate operations. These pilots illustrate how granular monitoring underpins adaptive, data-driven flood resilience and is crucial for performance benchmarking.
Year: 2026