Flood Risk Management
Flood Risk Management
Our research
Characterisation and management of flood impacts through state-of-the-art modelling tools.
Increasing flood risk
Floods are the most frequent, economic damaging and socially disruptive of natural disasters. The frequency of river and tidal flood events is increasing more rapidly than other natural disasters.
This is a result of climate change, urbanisation and environmental degradation.
Managing flood risk
Flood risk management aims to reduce the likelihood and impact of floods. It provides a framework that balances the many factors that affect risk, while considering societal values. This involves:
- data and information gathering
- performing hydrodynamic modelling
- risk assessment
- appraisal of options
- the implementation of solutions
Innovative flood modelling
We have developed a suite of state-of-the-art hydrodynamic modelling tools. These tools include the GPU enabled HiPIMS and cloud-enabled CityCAT.
We have also developed novel approaches to characterising flood impacts, such as:
- using network models to assess impacts on infrastructure
- using agent-based models to understand evacuation during flood events
We work closely with our Geomatics colleagues. We are combining new remote sensing and other data with advanced analytics and informatics. Together, this provides new high resolution and real time flood risk management.
Managing floods around the world
We are currently exploring issues relating to the management of floods in the UK and overseas, including Bangladesh and Vietnam.
We make communities more resilient to flooding. We provide strategies that are more sustainable given an uncertain future.

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Blue-Green Cities
Project Leader(s): Prof Chris Kilsby
Project Dates: 2013-2016 -
Future Storms
Project Leader(s): Prof Hayley Fowler -
Future Urban Flood Risk Management
Project Leader(s): Chris Kilsby (Newcastle PI)
Project Dates: October 2016 - September 2019 -
SINATRA: Susceptibility of catchments to INTense RAinfall and flooding
Project Leader(s): Hayley Fowler (Newcastle PI)
Project Dates: September 2013 - May 2019 -
Towards Resilience to Pluvial Flood Events
Project Leader(s): Claire Walsh
Project Dates: November 2018 - October 2020
Dr Stephen Birkinshaw
Researcher in Water Resources
Email: stephen.birkinshaw@ncl.ac.uk
Professor Richard Dawson
Professor of Earth Systems Engineering, Director of Research & Innovation
Email: richard.dawson@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6618
Dr Na Dong
Research Associate
Email: na.dong2@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 4861
Dr Majed Khadem
Research Associate
Email: majed.khadem@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: 0191 208 7121
Dr Fergus McClean
Research Associate
Email: fergus.mcclean@ncl.ac.uk
Dr Greg O'Donnell
Senior Researcher in Land Use Management Effects in Extreme Floods
Email: g.m.o'donnell@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5221
Dr Francesco Serinaldi
Willis Research Fellow
Email: francesco.serinaldi@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5956
David Walker
Research Assistant
Email: david.walker4@ncl.ac.uk
Dr Claire Walsh
Senior Lecturer
Email: claire.walsh@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6447