Guy Schumann, CEO and Founder of RSS-Hydro, details how the company’s cutting-edge satellite and modelling technology delivers unparalleled insights, enabling proactive measures against flood and wildfire risks.
RSS-Hydro is a leader in the development of innovative geospatial and modelling solutions that are designed to meet the specific needs of our clients. Our expertise lies in delivering tailored solutions that accurately assess flood and fire risk and inform effective mitigation strategies.
RSS-Hydro is also accredited by the government to operate parts of its business as a private sector research institution. This accreditation allows the company to access specific funding opportunities and support academic research by postdoctoral researchers and PhD students, reinforcing its commitment to scientific excellence.
Tailored flood modelling solutions for your specific needs
RSS-Hydro specialises in providing comprehensive site-specific flood modelling services that are designed to meet your unique requirements. Our tailored solutions offer a range of benefits, including:
- Customised modelling: We adapt our models to address your individual needs, whether you’re planning new developments, assessing existing infrastructure, or analysing specific land parcels.
- Risk assessment: Our models provide valuable insights into potential flood hazards, vulnerability, and risk, empowering informed decision-making. We evaluate factors such as flood frequency, water depth, and flow velocity to assess the potential impacts on infrastructure, property, and human life.
- Regulatory compliance: We ensure that our methodologies adhere to local and national regulations, ensuring peace of mind and compliance.
- Diverse applications: Our flood modelling expertise extends across various sectors, from urban planning and construction to environmental impact assessments and disaster management.
Our site-specific flood modelling services are applicable to a wide range of projects, including:
- Flood studies: Conduct detailed flood studies to understand flood risk and develop appropriate mitigation measures, ensuring compliance with national or local legislation.
- Urban planning: Assess the potential impact of flooding on urban development projects and incorporate flood risk into planning processes to minimise future damages and ensure sustainable development.
- Construction risk: Evaluate the risk of flooding during construction projects to protect infrastructure and workers. Our models can identify potential vulnerabilities and recommend mitigation measures to avoid costly delays and disruptions.
- Damage assessment: Assess the potential damages caused by flooding, including property damage, economic losses, and impacts on human health and safety. Our analyses can help quantify the potential costs of flooding and inform decision-making regarding mitigation and recovery efforts.
- Environmental impact: Evaluate the environmental consequences of flooding, such as impacts on ecosystems, water quality, and biodiversity. Our models can help identify sensitive areas and develop strategies to minimise environmental damage.
- River restoration: Develop strategies for restoring damaged river ecosystems and improving their resilience to flooding. Our expertise can help identify and implement effective river restoration measures, such as habitat creation, bank stabilisation, and floodplain reconnection.
- Natural flood management: Implement natural flood management measures, such as creating wetlands, restoring floodplains, and promoting sustainable land use practices. These measures can help reduce flood
risk and improve the overall health of ecosystems. - Dam safety: Analyse the safety of dams and assess the potential risks associated with dam failure. Our models can help identify potential vulnerabilities and recommend mitigation measures to ensure dam safety and prevent catastrophic failures.
- Infrastructure design: Design drainage systems, roads, and railways that are resilient to flooding. Our expertise can help ensure that infrastructure is designed to withstand flood events and minimise damages.
- Hydraulic capacity: Evaluate the hydraulic capacity of existing infrastructure to ensure it can handle flood flows. Our models can identify potential bottlenecks and recommend improvements to increase the capacity of drainage systems and other infrastructure.
- Mitigation measures: Develop and implement effective flood mitigation and protection strategies, such as floodwalls, levees, and early warning systems. Our expertise can help identify the most appropriate mitigation measures for your specific needs and develop comprehensive plans for implementation.
By partnering with RSS-Hydro, you can benefit from our tailored flood modelling solutions and gain valuable insights to mitigate risks and make informed decisions.
SafeCity: A comprehensive flood risk management solution
SafeCity, our award-winning licensable service, offers a holistic approach to flood risk management. Designed for both public and private sectors, SafeCity provides:
- Detailed flood risk assessment: A complete picture of flood risk for entire municipal areas, including buildings and infrastructure.
- Integrated modelling: Seamless integration of surface flooding and underground networks.
- Scenario analysis: Evaluation of different return periods, historical events, and future development areas.
- Mitigation strategies: Comprehensive recommendations for flood protection measures.
- 3D visualisation: Photo-realistic scene generation of model simulations and scenarios.
- Forecasting: Real-time flood forecasting capabilities.
FloodSENS: Cutting-edge flood mapping
Our FloodSENS algorithm utilises satellite imagery and topographic data to accurately identify and map flood extents. Key features include:
- Precise delineation: Hydrologically accurate flood mapping across diverse biomes and weather conditions.
- Global applicability: Effective flood mapping worldwide with local containerised deployment.
- Decision support: Timely and accurate flood information for insurance, humanitarian aid, and disaster management.
- Customisable solutions: Options for flood depth measurement, commercial imagery integration, and GIS data for in-depth risk assessments.
HydroSENS: Runoff change monitoring
HydroSENS offers valuable insights into vegetation health and runoff patterns. Key capabilities include:
- Vegetation health assessment: Extraction of fractional cover and spectral indices from satellite imagery.
- Water stress monitoring: Generation of soil moisture and evaporative water loss outputs.
- Downscaled data: High-resolution water stress indicators for practical applications.
FireSENS: Active wildfire health risk assessment
FireSENS is a vital tool for assessing wildfire health risks. Key features include:
- Vulnerability mapping: Identification of vulnerable populations based on fire data and demographics.
- Real-time insights: Timely information for wildfire-affected populations and long-term impact tracking.
- Customisation: Integration of demographic and infrastructure data for tailored assessments.
Data Authentication Service
Our Data Authentication Service ensures the highest level of trust and transparency in Earth Observation (EO) data. We provide authenticated, traceable, and audited EO data and analysis workflows in all our satellite EO products, meeting the stringent requirements of various industries and organisations.
The benefits of partnering with RSS-Hydro
By partnering with RSS-Hydro, you can:
- Reduce risk: Gain a deeper understanding of disaster risks and implement effective mitigation strategies.
- Improve decision-making: Make informed decisions based on accurate and reliable flood modelling data and wildfire risk mapping.
- Ensure compliance: Adhere to local and national regulations related to risk management.
- Enhance sustainability: Contribute to sustainable development by minimising the impact of disasters on communities and the environment.
Contact us
To learn more about how RSS-Hydro can address your specific disaster risk mapping and modelling needs, please contact us today. We’ll provide a tailored quote and discuss your project requirements.
Please note, this article will also appear in the 20th edition of our quarterly publication.
