Green Days by the EPPD: Flood Modelling

Tuesday 7 January 2020

Flood Modelling– FLO 2D Software

Flood Modelling Training Workshop Participants

Under the GCP/TRI/003/GFF Project - Improving Forest and Protected Area Management in Trinidad and Tobago, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) facilitated a five (5) day training course on Flood Modelling using the FLO-2D software. The sessions were hosted at the Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT), Drainage Division IN El Socorro.

The FAO partnered with MOWT, as well as the University of the West Indies (U.W.I) to complete the two (2) module training course. The lecturers from the U.W.I. were Dr. Vincent Cooper of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dr. Bheshem Ramlal and Dr. Jason Tambie of the Department of Geomatics and Land Management.

Given the recent frequency of flooding that has been affecting large areas of Trinidad and even Tobago, the aim of the training sessions was to entrust the main stakeholders with the capacity to utilize flood modelling software to assist in possible flood prevention and/or mitigation.

Module 1 of the training was held on October 30-31, 2019 and introduced all participants to the use of the QGIS platform with FLO-2D as a plug-in. Aspects such as rainfall analysis, infiltration and hydrologic analysis were explored within these days.

Module 2 was held over the period of November 19-21, 2019 and delved deeper into the manipulation of the software including the generation of inflow hydrographs, using Mapper Pro (for visual representation of flood extent and Flood hazard mapping) as well as the effects of 1D channel routing, hydraulic structures, embankments and consequential outflow conditions. The last day of training saw all participants performing group assignments portraying the use of the software from conceptualization to presentation of the models generated and analysis of the results.

The Ministry of Planning and Development was represented by Mr. Julius Smith and Ms. Tushara Maharaj.