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SMEs invited to help tackle household flooding issue

03 April 2019

 

Businesses are being invited to bid for a contract to work on a collaborative project to tackle an issue involved in household flooding.

Dr Ed Rollason launching the challenge at RIPPLE 2019
Dr Ed Rollason launching the challenge at RIPPLE 2019

Teesside University’s School of Science, Engineering & Design is offering a contract to the value of £3,000 for SMEs to work with academics to explore the potential for using immersive technology in enhancing household flood preparedness and resilience.

The successful SME would be involved in preparing an initial feasibility study. The intention is to develop the work into a larger partnership which would target funding to develop an application and test its effectiveness.

Dr Ed Rollason, Lecturer in Geography at Teesside University, launched the challenge at annual networking event RIPPLE, hosted by Durham University Water Hub.

He said: ‘The aim is to build on existing research and expertise in flood modelling and community resilience to support a larger funding application to InnovateUK to develop and evaluate tools and services based on immersive tech for use in the flooding sector.’

Around five million households are at risk from flooding across England, with this risk is likely to increase due to climate change with predicted increases in rainfall of up to 100% and peak river flows by 300% by the 2080s. Property flooding in England causes £800 million worth of damage annually. Associated impacts to health include increased mortality, as well as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Research shows that increasing householder understanding of what might happen during a flood, and what action can be taken to reduce flooding impacts, has significant positive effect on the mental and physical impacts experienced before and after a flooding event.

The aim is to build on existing research and expertise in flood modelling and community resilience to support a larger funding application

Dr Ed Rollason

However, Environment Agency evidence shows that current levels of preparedness are very low. Only a third of the public have prepared or thought through a flood plan, and only 50% of people who receive a flood warning take any action such as moving vulnerable possessions.

Existing methods of communicating flood risk information are not working effectively and the aim of this challenge is to explore how immersive technologies might be used for enhancing how householders engage with and experience information on preparing for and responding to floods.

SMEs are invited to submit an application before Thursday 16 May outlining how they would spend the money through the Water Hub. Solutions can be submitted via this application form which should be sent to innovate@thewaterhub.org.uk. Fuller information about the challenge can be found here on The Water Hub website.


 
 
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