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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_WWU_035
Title	Climate Change Impact Mapping
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Other oil and gas) 50%; Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas) 50%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Geography and Environmental Studies) 50%; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences) 50%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given Wales and West Utilities
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 March 2017
End Date	01 July 2020
Duration	40 months
Total Grant Value	£413,333
Industrial Sectors	Technical Consultancy
Region	Wales
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , Wales and West Utilities (100.000%)
Web Site	http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_WWU_035
Objectives	To develop and demonstrate the technology for the geographical area of WWU to better understand the benefits and opportunities that the availability of such data can provide when making future investment decisions. To collect a body of evidence to support this technical innovation. that delivers the intended result & is a useful tool to meet our obligations as a responsible business.
Abstract	Responding to UK Government concerns on climate change we want to take a leading role, embracing new ideas and innovative thinking, to look for solutions to the problems caused by climate change. We have sought ways to avoid damage to our network and reduce the risk of inconvenience and higher costs for customers. Communities across the UK are already experiencing and dealing with the consequences of extreme weather events and the impacts of a changing climate. As one of the greatest environmental challenges facing our planet, a holistic approach to mitigation and adaptation is required. Our stakeholders have told us that they feel that utilities industries need to take action to protect valuable assets from flooding. We consider that issues such as those listed below are important: 1. Flooding of above ground assets (river, tidal and surface water flooding);2. River erosion exposing pipelines (erosion of the river bed and bank);3. Impact on over-river crossings (flash flood waters, debris and bridge structure collapse); and4. Impact on coastline assets (flooding and saline corrosion from sea level rise). By developing a system of obtaining, accessing and presenting this data we will be able to deliver the world’s first climate change impact modelling and mapping tool that will support the management of assets. We have successfully completed a pilot study with our partners to investigate the potential of creating a technical innovative solution to link climate change forecast data to actual physical impacts on the ground. The project was delivered on a small scale across a defined area of EU Water Framework Directive River Catchments around the town of Machynlleth. The work was carried out iteratively, involving review, challenge, feedback and model adjustments to allow the development of data layers to overlay with live gas infrastructure and the transport network. This self-funded project took a solution through Technology Readiness Levels 3 to 6, with analytical proof of concept, a prototype system validation of integrated concepts and testing data from a sophisticated modelling prototype in a simulated operational environment. This Project will investigate and report on the capability and full benefits of the mapping tool by uploading the data and carrying out a series of case studies for each climate change data theme. The Project will also look at the potential use of the data in terms of diversion requests and incident responses. The demonstration project draws upon the best available information and will involve billions of calculations in one of the world’s fasted super-computers to generate the model outputs. The modelling method uses best-practice methodologies and provides the most detailed flood risk mapping available in Great Britain. LiDAR technology is used to capture topographical input data with a vertical accuracy of approximately 15cm. This data is further enhanced by over two years of detailed manual calibration so as to ensure the underlying digital terrain model is optimised for precision flood modelling. Current Ordnance Survey mapping is used to derive land cover characteristics, determine surface roughness and model spatial and temporal variability in landscape infiltration. Incorporating the latest river flow, rainfall and climate change predictions available, this tool addresses all major sources of flooding - including river, surface water and tidal. This approach allows the creation of unique, innovative new layers, providing insight into flood hazards and the resulting impacts on river banks, transport networks, bridges and other specific assets, infrastructure and properties. Flooding and sea level rise data themes are presented as 10 separate layers representing 10 different climate scenarios taken from Defra’s UKCP09 (UK Climate Projections 2009) model, with flexibility for a user to compare current conditions with future best case, central case and worst case conditions in 2020, 2050 and 2080 using a range of carbon emission scenarios and probabilities. Erosion, transport and bridge impact data themes are provided as a single layer containing information from all modelled scenarios. Each chosen scenario can then be used to query interaction with live gas infrastructure of varying degrees of criticality to assess imminent and future potential for impact, develop risk management and maintenance strategies for different asset groups and plan appropriate intervention over the shorter (RIIO-GD1), medium (RIIO-GD2) and longer (beyond RIIO-GD2) timeframes.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	09/08/18