Innovation Award 3 May 2012
Rivers Agency wins top Innovation Award for flood map
Minister Michelle
ONeill has congratulated Rivers Agency on winning a major award for its Flood
Map.
Rivers Agency won the
Institute of Waters NI Area Innovation Award for the Strategic Flood Map which
provides information on past and future flood risk from rivers, the sea and is
the first publically available map in the UK or Ireland which includes the risk
from surface water flooding.
Speaking about the
award, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister ONeill said: The Institute
of Water, in presenting this regional award, has recognised Rivers Agencys
proactive response to flooding. With the map now widely available, property
owners, businesses and local service providers all have easy access to
information about past and future risk in their own areas, so that they are
better prepared and can plan accordingly.”
The Minister
continued: This award is also industry recognition of the efforts of Rivers
Agency staff involved in the development of these mapping products. I
understand that flooding can cause major damage and disruption and so my
officials go to great lengths to provide good quality, easily understood flood
risk information to the public. The Strategic Flood Map is therefore an
essential tool as it enables everyone to understand the risk they face, which
in turns allows informed decisions to be taken to reduce the impact of flooding
on people, property and the natural environment.
Publication of the
surface water flood information is very innovative and it raises the profile of
this source of flooding, which given the predictions for climate change is
likely to become increasingly more frequent in the future.
The competition was
open to individuals, teams or organisations working in the water industry in
the north with an innovation or innovative idea. The winning submission from
River Agency together with other regional finalists will go forward to the
Institute of Water National Innovation Awards in London.
