Hi-tech flood warnings Simon Oakes Edexcel Principal Examiner

Tapsell, S., Burton, R., Oakes, S. and Parker, D. (2004) The Social Performance of Flood Warning Communications Technologies Environment Agency Technical Report W5C-016

Lecture outline Traditional warning methods and their weaknesses Traditional warning methods and their weaknesses What are hi-tech warnings and why are they needed? What are hi-tech warnings and why are they needed? What are “vulnerable groups”? What are “vulnerable groups”? Environment Agency: new hi-tech plans Environment Agency: new hi-tech plans Who uses mobiles and the internet? Who uses mobiles and the internet? Will hi-tech warnings work? Will hi-tech warnings work? How is this relevant to my course? How is this relevant to my course? Writing about flood management Writing about flood management

Traditional warning methods Door knocking Door knocking Flood wardens Flood wardens Mobile loudhailers Mobile loudhailers Flood sirens Flood sirens Public address systems Public address systems Television and radio broadcasts Television and radio broadcasts Television teletext (1980s) Television teletext (1980s) Automatic Voice Messaging (AVM) via home telephone lines (1990s) Automatic Voice Messaging (AVM) via home telephone lines (1990s) Dial-and-listen services (e.g. Floodline) Dial-and-listen services (e.g. Floodline)

That was then.... (1953)

Why are new methods needed?...By the 1970s, flood forecasters are producing timely and accurate flood forecasts and are giving good flood warnings....But people living in floodplains often say that no flood warning has actually been received by them....must do better.

Extra concern: vulnerable groups Blind or visually impaired Blind or visually impaired Deaf or hard of hearing Deaf or hard of hearing Impaired mobility Impaired mobility Elderly Elderly Low income earners Low income earners The homeless The homeless Ethnic minorities Ethnic minorities

This is now... Hi-Tech Warnings Mobile SMS text messaging and broadcast Mobile SMS text messaging and broadcast Mobile telephone and voice mail Mobile telephone and voice mail Digital TV and digital radio broadcast Digital TV and digital radio broadcast Real time internet flood data: live cameras Real time internet flood data: live cameras Internet websites with real-time warnings Internet websites with real-time warnings Centrally activated in-home alert systems (similar to smoke alarms and triggered using digital radio signals) Centrally activated in-home alert systems (similar to smoke alarms and triggered using digital radio signals)

Environment Agency: recent hi-tech development 2006: the Environment Agency introduces Floodline Warnings Direct (FWD) service 2006: the Environment Agency introduces Floodline Warnings Direct (FWD) service Direct flood warning messages can now be routed to mobile phones by SMS text and PCs via , as well as home telephones, mobile phones, pagers, and faxes Direct flood warning messages can now be routed to mobile phones by SMS text and PCs via , as well as home telephones, mobile phones, pagers, and faxes People who are at risk will be able to self-register on the internet and choose how they would like to be contacted in the event of a flood warning being issued People who are at risk will be able to self-register on the internet and choose how they would like to be contacted in the event of a flood warning being issued A faster computer system is also being introduced so that all warnings will be issued more quickly, no matter which options have been selected. A faster computer system is also being introduced so that all warnings will be issued more quickly, no matter which options have been selected.

Environment Agency: future hi-tech warnings Floodline Warnings Direct marks the first step in a five-year plan “to use new communications technologies and new media to get environmental messages across in innovative ways – through digital TV and new generation mobile phones”. Floodline Warnings Direct marks the first step in a five-year plan “to use new communications technologies and new media to get environmental messages across in innovative ways – through digital TV and new generation mobile phones”. In the future, digital television has considerable potential to save lives, should future government legislation allow warning messages to be displayed on- screen, irrespective of a viewer’s choice of channel. In the future, digital television has considerable potential to save lives, should future government legislation allow warning messages to be displayed on- screen, irrespective of a viewer’s choice of channel. A Radio Data System (RDS) might be introduced, with receivers similar to smoke alarms placed in homes. These would be activated in an emergency situation using digitally transmitted signals. A Radio Data System (RDS) might be introduced, with receivers similar to smoke alarms placed in homes. These would be activated in an emergency situation using digitally transmitted signals.

Will hi-tech warnings work? Social barriers to use Social barriers to use Cost of technologies Cost of technologies

Will hi-tech warnings work? Social barriers to use Social barriers to use Cost of technologies Cost of technologies Always-on or dial-up? Always-on or dial-up? Geographical availability Geographical availability Market fragmentation Market fragmentation Spam Spam

Population Structure e.g. age and income Warning Methods e.g. sirens and mobiles Physical and human geography e.g. mobile reception Will Warnings Work?

Perfect flood management? 100% effectiveness (no lives lost) can never be guaranteed using a single method % effectiveness (no lives lost) can never be guaranteed using a single method......so a multi-strand approach will always be needed...so a multi-strand approach will always be needed

How is this relevant to my course? Flood management Flood management Hazardous environments Hazardous environments People and the physical environment People and the physical environment

“Countries at most risk from disasters caused by natural hazards tend to be poor” Discuss. (OCR A) Quality answer: shows understanding of levels of economic development at a variety of scales

“To what extent can prediction help in reducing hazard impact?” (Edexcel B) Quality answer: addresses “to what extent” by recognising prediction is only one aspect of a successful management strategy. Quality answer: “impact” is not spread evenly through a population: vulnerable groups

Decision-making exercise Which technology shows the greatest potential for issuing and receiving flood warnings? After considering the pros and cons of each technology, you should recommend to the Environment Agency one technology that could be made a priority. Your answer will refer to: Costs and effectiveness Usefulness for vulnerable groups Geographical availability Think about how often you check your or phone. Would a flood warning sent by be read in time?

Synoptic geography Hi-tech flood warnings provide A-level candidates with an opportunity to bring together quaternary industry and hydrology. What human factors explain the rapid pace of development of ICT in recent years? How are hi- tech research developments helping us deal with the risks associated with the physical challenge of river flooding?

The full report that this article is based on can be read by entering “social performance” into the search field and downloading the free PDF file at: agency.gov.uk/epages/ eapublications.storefront