Context: In May 2023, Lisbon experienced an intense rainfall event, recording 16 mm of rain in one hour — approximately 27% of the historical average for the entire month. This sudden downpour created a significant risk of flooding, particularly in areas with known drainage vulnerabilities, such as the Av. Almirante Reis and Martim Moniz districts in Lisbon.
Challenge: The key challenge was to detect rapid changes in water levels in time to issue alerts and prevent damage. Given the short distance between high-risk areas (400 meters), there was a critical need to identify flooding threats quickly and accurately, enabling authorities to act before the situation escalated.
Solution: Our flood monitoring system was deployed to detect changes in water levels in real-time. At 17:55, the upstream sensor in the drainage duct on Av. Almirante Reis identified an abrupt rise in water level from 25 cm to 216 cm in just 30 minutes. By 17:59, an alert was issued at the downstream flood sensor located on the public road in Martim Moniz (downstream), just 5 minutes after the rapid rise was detected.
Results:
Demonstrated the system's anticipatory capacity to detect flooding threats quickly, based on water flow levels in the underground drainage system.
Enabled timely alerts within 5 minutes of detecting a sudden rise in water levels, allowing for prompt intervention.
Identified the need for additional sensors further upstream to reduce anticipation time and enhance flood prevention.
Established protocols with Civil Protection authorities for preventive action to be taken when such levels are detected (e.g. unclogging drainage holes, restricting access to pedestrians and vehicles, warning businesses of incoming flood, etc.).
This success case highlights the effectiveness of our flood detection system in providing preventive alerts, showcasing its potential to significantly reduce human and economical damage and improve urban flood management strategies.
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