Case 1: Close sensing, using drone pictures for a 2D flood model and a communication video

Case owner: CORE Bangladesh

Flood modeling in Bangladesh is often compromised by a severe lack of data. Furthermore, local conditions change frequently, which impacts flow patterns for sub-critical events. While remote sensing imagery is available at an increasing level-of-detail, local surveys remain necessary to provide the data required for a detailed digital terrain model which is essential for overland flood modeling. Current advancement in drones and photogrammetry improve the coverage and processing of local terrain surveys tremendously. In this case, we develop and test the workflow for a drone-enhanced local flood model in a peri-urban area. With the drone we will fly the pilot-area. The resulting pictures can be used to produce a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). How can an accurate DEM be produced, based on drone-enhanced images?And how can drone-taken pictures be processed into a video for communication purposes?

Case 2: Retrofit kits, to protect peri-urban houses against frequent flood events

Case owner: TUBE Barrier/CORE Bangladesh

While developing flood resilience at community-based level requires an ensemble of socio-technical measures, one of the major needs in poor peri-urban communities is the development of flood proofing kits to retrofit existing houses. Although varying in size, most peri-urban houses consist of a clay floor, a bamboo bearing structure and galvanized steel cladding, which makes them vulnerable to floods. As communities are poor, this subsequently means that resources to change or adapt the housing situation are very limited; relocation is often not an option while building a more durable, flood resistant housing type is financially infeasible. The only remaining option is to retrofit the existing houses to at least protect them against frequent flood events with limited inundation depths. The task in this case is therefore to develop proposals for flood-proofing these houses, by developing a retrofitting kit that is effective against medium inundations, is easy to construct, can be applied to an existing house and is cost-effective.

Final poster & report

• Paper Retrofitting – Lifting the floor to protect households from flood
• Poster Team Retrofit

Case 3: A systematic approach to determine the effects of the Restoration of the Old Brahmaputra river

Case owner: Deltares

Restoration of the flow of the Old Brahmaputra river can result in significant social, environmental and technical effects. The goal is to determine these effects on a primarily qualitative basis, looking at the river from a systems perspective, thus taking into account dependencies between various disciplines and actors. What does this restoration entail from e.g. a hydrological perspective? How can local communities along the river benefit from a restoration? What are the (changes) in the ecosystem services? And what does the restoration mean for the river system itself?

Final poster & report

• Paper Restoration Old Brahmaputra River and its’ Social Perspective
• Poster Team Old Brahmaputra River

Case 4: Saniproofing, design of flood-proof sanitation facilities for poor peri-urban communities

Case owner: Urban Wetlands/CORE Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, many peri-urban areas are exposed to floods during the rainy season, often lasting for weeks or months. Although communities are often haphazardly adapted to these flooded conditions, the provision of adequate sanitation is a continuing worry. Yet, it is one of the key factors in limiting water-borne diseases that typically affect the urban poor during the wet season.  How can we design flood-proof sanitation for these communities, as well as additional vital services (e.g. water supply) in a robust, cost-effective manner? It should be easy to maintain, and using local materials and construction techniques.

Final poster & report – Winning team!

• Paper A Genderfriendly Flood Proofing Sanitation System, focusing on community based resiliences
• Poster Team Sanitation Stars