Distributed flood prediction and monitoring system
The project team has produced a prototype system for storing, managing and accessing flood forecasting indicators - such as satellite algorithms, ground measurements and hydrological models - called "flood products". The system provides for harmonisation and automatic storage of flood products from different systems, as well as distributed databases and catalogues with convenient access via a web-based viewer. Harmonisation of different flood products from different systems is established through the definition of common data attributes that must be present for all entered products. Automated storage of data from different systems is also supported, and complemented by a simple insertion tool for manual storage via the web. The project participants also developed geographic information network software that supports storage of the entered flood products in distributed databases and catalogues. A web-based viewer then enables users to search or browse for flood products throughout this distributed system and view the attributes of the relevant models and measurements. The projects' developments already provide an infrastructure for improved flood prediction and monitoring. Further developments include a web map service based on the distributed storage network, along with viewer client software that permits the public to view flood patterns as images and maps via the web.