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Hydro-Meteorological Monitoring System for Flood Prediction

Solution Overview

Buenos Aires deployed a comprehensive hydro-meteorological monitoring system to provide reliable and accurate information needed for planning and emergency management, risk management and flood mitigation, as well as for monitoring and protecting water resources.[3] This approach consists of a network of interconnected sensors that measure speed, direction and level of water in the sewage drains and feeds the data to city IT systems that are tracking additional meteorological, hydrological, and environmental parameters, setting off an alarm if flooding is predicted.[3] The system is equipped with a network of 34 automatic meteorological and hydrological stations, and is integrated with the Single Coordination and Control Center.[4]

Technical Components

The monitoring infrastructure incorporates 46 sensors to the hydrometeorological network throughout the City.[4] The city installed sensors in over 30,000 storm drains that measure and alert the city if flooding is predicted.[3] The operation of the network is complemented by a series of hydrometeorological sensors that transmit data to a control center, providing information on the main problems in the City's water basins, including the flow contained in the conduits and the water level in each one.[4] With the knowledge of changes in rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed, and stream water level, the city can generate much more reliable community alerts and make better-informed, real-time decisions during emergencies.[2] The government installed a system to monitor the water level in the Arroyo Medrano retention basin after the basin overflowed during an extreme precipitation event, which triggers an alarm as soon as a defined threshold is reached.[7] The Arroyo Medrano water level monitoring system uses the OTT RLS contact-free radar sensor for water level measurement.[7] Data visualization and alarm set-off is managed by software addVAN-TAGE Pro.[7] The Storm Early Warning System (SAT) allows analysis and evaluation of storm forecasts about the City, warns of probable flooding and improves the management of emergency situations.[4]

Implementation Details

So far, 30 information collection points have been installed, with more sensors under development.[2] The Flood Risk Management Support Project includes implementation of a Comprehensive Hydrometeorological Observation, Surveillance, and Alert System (SIHVIGILA) which will increase the capacity for severe weather forecasting and improve emergency management and recovery.[5] The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved a new project for Argentina totaling US$200 million to strengthen flood risk management in the city of Buenos Aires and improve drainage systems in the Cildáñez, Vega and Maldonado Stream basins on June 22, 2016.[5] The project has a total cost of US$326 million, with US$200 million coming from the World Bank loan, and the remaining US$125 million being financed by the Buenos Aires city government.[8] The project implementation kicked off in December 2016.[9] The project forms part of the Hydraulic Master Plan of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, which establishes a series of actions until 2050 to reduce the risks and effects of the floods generated by the eight basins contained in the city.[5] Additionally, the city of Buenos Aires contributed US$59 million and the World Bank (IBRD) contributed US$130 million to the Urban Flood Prevention and Drainage Project.[6]

Benefits and Impacts

With the data derived from the monitoring system, Buenos Aires is better equipped for emergency management by pre-empting social and medical assistance needs, predicting and monitoring weather phenomena, automatically operating pumping stations and floodgates, issuing warnings to key institutions and the public, and sending cleaning crews to compromised drains.[2][3] Data derived from sensors along the Medrano Stream help the city make important planning and emergency response decisions.[2] When combined with other weather reports and citizen alerts on social media, the city can now determine in real time which areas need immediate support.[3] In 2014, Buenos Aires experienced the most rainfall ever registered in the city's history – but unlike in 2013, the city did not flood.[3] The city saw an uptick in almost all satisfaction indices including the storm water drains index, which increased from 19 to 56.[3] Including residents and daily commuters, the monitoring system protects approximately 6 million people.[2] The Flood Risk Management Support Project ultimately benefits around 3 million people that live and commute daily through the target basins, helping citizens reach work and access schools and medical facilities, and improving living conditions for thousands of people who live in informal settlements.[9]

Climate Adaptation Relevance

Buenos Aires has observed an increase in average temperature, increase in extreme temperatures, and increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events.[1] In recent years, Buenos Aires has set records for rainfall and heat waves, and the intensity of storms and flooding is expected to increase.[3] After a storm flooded the city, killing almost 100 people and causing close to $103 million in damages, the city decided to mitigate their risks by expanding the use of technology.[3] In April 2013, Buenos Aires suffered a record rainfall, causing more than $300 million in damages, and the hydro-meteorological monitoring system helps prevent such catastrophes in the future.[2]

Business Analysis

The World Bank Board approved a US$200 million loan for a project to strengthen flood risk management in Argentine capital Buenos Aires and improve drainage systems in the city's Cildáñez, Vega and Maldonado river basins.[8] The project is part of the city's hydraulic master plan, which outlines a series of flood-mitigation actions until 2050 to reduce the risks and effects of floods in the city.[8] Buenos Aires City Adaptation Plan includes an Early Warning System as a non-structural adaptation measure.[1] The financing structure combines international development bank support with substantial municipal investment, demonstrating a public-sector partnership model for large-scale climate adaptation infrastructure.

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