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EU project upgrades flood research database

EU-funded researchers have released an upgrade of their pan-European flood research database. The online platform is the first 'one-stop-shop' to allow European countries to easily exchange data gleaned from research into flood risk management. As well as providing information...

EU-funded researchers have released an upgrade of their pan-European flood research database. The online platform is the first 'one-stop-shop' to allow European countries to easily exchange data gleaned from research into flood risk management. As well as providing information to policy makers, researchers, funding bodies and those working in flood risk management, the database is designed to help EU Member States implement the European Floods Directive. The database was created by scientists in the CRUE ('Coordination of research financed in the European Union on flood risk management') project, which was financed under the 'Coordination of research activities' Activity area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). The aim of CRUE is to improve the coordination of national flood research programmes across Europe. Dubbed CRUISE ('CRUE Information System Europe'), the database provides an online platform for people interested in finding out more about European research relating to floods. CRUISE can be accessed for free and no registration is required. The latest upgrade will see users gain access to data on almost 500 flood-related research projects, funding initiatives and other activities from CRUE partner countries going back over the past 10 years. Users can search for information by research programme, research project, funding body and research unit. Users can easily summarise key information and also identify research gaps and needs. Finally, the database includes researchers' contact details and links to the websites of relevant organisations. 'The most recent CRUISE release improves the usability and content of our shared database on national and European flood-related research,' commented CRUE project coordinator John Goudie of the UK's Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). 'The release was developed and supported by CRUE partners in direct response to the needs of the European Member States in implementing the EU Floods Directive. Easy access to research information is one of the most challenging issues for research funding bodies to tackle in order to make the European Research Area (ERA) a reality.' Floods are a problem across the EU: between 1998 and 2002 alone, Europe experienced over 100 major floods, including the catastrophic floods which hit the rivers Danube and Elbe in 2002. Since 1998, floods have caused around 700 deaths, displaced half a million people and caused at least EUR 25 billion in insured economic losses. Millions of Europeans live near rivers and stretches of coastline that are at risk of flooding. Furthermore, as climate change is predicted to lead to higher rainfall and rising sea levels, both the scale and frequency of floods are likely to increase in the future. Adopted in 2007, the EU's Floods Directive covers all kinds of floods, including rivers, lakes, flash floods, urban floods and coastal floods such as those caused by storm surges and tsunamis. Under the directive, Member States have until 2011 to carry out a preliminary flood risk assessment of their river basins and coastal zones to identify areas at a high risk of flooding. They must then, by 2013, draw up flood-hazard maps and flood-risk maps for high-risk areas. These maps should highlight areas at risk of flooding and indicate the number of inhabitants affected, the economic activity and the potential for environmental damage. Finally, the countries have until 2015 to develop flood risk management plans for these zones. The plans should include measures to reduce the risk of flooding and its consequences. As such, they are expected to have a strong focus on prevention, for example by avoiding the construction of houses and business in flood-prone areas. On the protection front, possible actions to reduce the risk of floods include the restoration of flood plains and wetlands, while preparedness measures could include providing the public with guidance on what they should do in the event of a flood.

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